Chicago White Sox ALDS loss to Cleveland Guardians recap

When the season began, the Chicago White Sox were looking to take steps forward after three straight 100-loss seasons, including a modern-day major-league record of 121 in 2024.

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They made a giant leap, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. And then they won a postseason series for the first time since the 2005 World Series by sweeping the Houston Astros in the American League wild-card series.

But the magic came to an end in the AL Division Series, as the Cleveland Guardians won three straight win-or-go-home games against the Sox to advance in the postseason.

Here’s how the best-of-five series unfolded.

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Game 1: White Sox 3, Astros 0

Munetaka Murakami hit a rocket to right field.

The White Sox first baseman took a couple of seconds to admire the blast, then tossed the bat and turned to his teammates in the dugout, yelling in excitement.

“I can’t really explain it in words right now,” Murakami said through an interpreter when asked what was said. “But it was something a little bit dirty.”

Murakami’s two-run home run in the fourth inning lifted the Sox to a 3-0 victory against the Guardians in Game 1 of the ALDS in front of a sellout crowd of 34,287 at Progressive Field. Read more here.

• Column: Grant Taylor and the White Sox relievers keep doing ‘our little thing’ in Game 1 win
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Game 2: White Sox 4, Guardians 3

Braden Montgomery was ready for “something to attack.” The White Sox right fielder batted with runners on second and third and two outs in the sixth inning and the team down by one run in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

“I wasn’t playing the guessing game,” Montgomery said. “Just ready for (reliever Erik Sabrowski’s) hardest stuff and ready for something over the plate.

“They were attacking me all night early on, and so got to be ready.”

Montgomery came through with a two-run opposite-field double to right field, giving the Sox the lead. He then scored on a single by Chase Meidroth and the Sox held on for a 4-3 victory on Monday in front of a sellout crowd of 32,050 at Progressive Field.

Sean Burke pitched 5 1/3 spectacular innings in a bulk role while Grant Taylor recorded the final four outs as the Sox took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Read more here.

• Column: White Sox win Game 2 even as their pitching goes from slow to stellar
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• Guardians’ bats go cold again, totaling just 7 hits so far in ALDS vs. White Sox

Game 3: Guardians 9, White Sox 3

The White Sox were aiming to party in front of their home fans. But the Guardians had other ideas.

The Guardians scored four runs in the third inning on the way to defeating the Sox 9-3 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in front of a sellout crowd of 40,590 at Rate Field. Jo Adell had the big hit in the inning, driving in three runs with a triple to help the Guardians fight off elimination. Read more here.

• Column: Rate Field was ready for a clincher, but the White Sox staged a Game 3 clunker
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Game 4: Guardians 9, White Sox 5

The road to the American League Championship Series for the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians will include one more game at Progressive Field.

The Sox fell short in their attempt to win the AL Division Series for the second straight night, losing 9-5 to the Guardians in Game 4 on Thursday in front of a sellout crowd of 39,920 at Rate Field. Read more here.

• Chicago White Sox bullpen and Grant Taylor run dry in Game 4, setting up winner-take-all ALDS finale
• Column: Best-laid plans go awry for the Chicago White Sox, who now face a do-or-die ALDS Game 5 on the road
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Game 5: Guardians 2, White Sox 0

The Chicago White Sox couldn’t find sustained success at the plate all night as their improbable season ended with a 2-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Division Series in front of a sellout crowd of 36,889 at Progressive Field.

The Sox didn’t have a hit until two outs in the sixth, when Kyle Teel singled to right field against Guardians starter Gavin Williams. They finished with three hits and struck out 21 times. Read more here.

How we got here

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The White Sox advanced to the AL Division Series, thanks to their two-game sweep of the Astros in Houston.

It was the White Sox’s first postseason series win since they swept the Astros in the 2005 World Series for their first championship in 88 years.

• • Game 1: White Sox take wild-card series opener with a 6-3 win over the Astros
  • Column: Pope Leo’s blessings serve as prelude to a heavenly win in White Sox playoff opener
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  • Game 2: White Sox complete sweep for 1st playoff series win since 2005 
  • Column: White Sox have made converts out of everyone — including Jerry Reinsdorf
  • How the White Sox defied history, going from a record 121 losses to the postseason in just 2 years