The Cleveland Guardians had their backs against the wall on Wednesday. They needed to beat the Chicago White Sox to extend their 2026 season, and delivered in impressive fashion.
Led by Jose Ramirez, Jo Adell, and an impressive effort by their pitching staff, the Guardians beat the White Sox 9-3 at Rate Field and cut the AL Division Series deficit to 2-1. In case you were wondering, yes: they are still on the brink of elimination. However, they needed to show some signs of life on Wednesday and did it emphatically.
We will see you tomorrow night(?).#GuardsBall | #GuardiWins pic.twitter.com/rFk2eBDZQD
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 7, 2026
Foster Griffin relieved a shaky Daniel Espino and kept Chicago to one run in 2.2 innings, striking out seven and giving the offense a chance. And it showed up, at long last.
A Kyle Teel double gave the home team an early lead in the first inning, driving in Sam Antonacci. Espino departed after getting two outs and allowing that run, giving way to Griffin. The All-Star lefty struck out Tristan Peters to strand a runner at third.
Cleveland’s offense came alive in the top of the third. Steven Kwan plated Travis Bazzana with the tying run. Later in the inning, the Guardians would load the bases with two outs, and Adell came up to the plate. The trade acquisition delivered perhaps the clutchest hit of the season: a bases-clearing triple that made it a 4-1 ballgame in Chicago.
Consecutive doubles off Griffin in the fourth by Chase Meidroth and Peters gave Chicago their second run. After getting the first out of the inning, manager Stephen Vogt brought in Shawn Armstrong, who got the last two outs to end the threat.
In the fifth, J-Ram showed that he can still take over a game. He doubled to open the frame, stole third base, and scored on a Chase DeLauter groundout.
In the sixth, Hunter Gaddis took over for Joey Cantillo and hit a batter with the bases loaded, which resulted in the White Sox scoring their third run. Cantillo, who had relieved Armstrong, surrendered a single run in 1.2 frames.
With the game 5-3 in Cleveland’s favor, Ramirez came through once again with a two-run triple, scoring Bazzana and Patrick Bailey. Then, in the ninth, Angel Genao doubled in Nathaniel Lowe, and Brayan Rocchio drove in Petey Halpin with a single.
After Tim Herrin struck out the side in the seventh, closer Cade Smith delivered a masterful relief appearance, solving the eighth and the ninth frames in impressive fashion, striking out five.
Ramirez finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs, and two RBI. Adell drove in three and logged two hits, including that clutch triple, and Lowe walked three times.
The Guardians will try to tie the series on Thursday behind Parker Messick. Buckle up, because this team is used to facing adversity.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Reveals Why He Chose Daniel Espino To Start Game 3
