Guardians Set Postseason Strikeout Record in 9-3 Game 3 Rout to Stay Alive in ALDS

The Cleveland Guardians refused to die. Facing elimination and trailing the ALDS 2-0, Cleveland stormed into Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday and hammered the Chicago White Sox 9-3 in Game 3, powered by the most dominant pitching performance in franchise postseason history. The Guardians' staff struck out 19 White Sox across nine innings — a new postseason record for a nine-inning game — with opener Daniel Espino handing off to six relievers. Foster Griffin led the charge with seven strikeouts over 2.2 innings before Cade Smith slammed the door with five more in the final two frames. The offense finally woke up, too. After managing just three runs and seven hits across the first two games, Cleveland collected 11 hits, sparked by Jo Adell's bases-clearing triple in a four-run third that turned a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 lead. José Ramírez broke out of his slump with two hits, two RBIs and two runs, adding a diving stop at third on Miguel Vargas' bases-loaded smash in the sixth to protect a 5-3 edge and a two-run triple in the eighth to put it away. Chicago, which struck first on Kyle Teel's RBI double, went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position in front of 40,590 fans at its first home playoff game since 2021 — and missed its first chance to clinch a postseason series at home since the 1906 World Series. The White Sox still lead 2-1, with Game 4 set for Thursday in Chicago and the winner advancing to face Tampa Bay in the ALCS.