Despite not getting a good start from ace Parker Messick, the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox in a back-and-forth Game 4 of the AL Division Series that was, for much of the first five innings at least, much closer than the final 9-5 score suggests.
Just like that, the Guardians forced a winner-takes-all Game 5 in Cleveland on Saturday. They lost the first two, but won Games 3 and 4 in Chicago in front of a difficult crowd at Rate Field.
Game 5 IS necessary.#GuardsBall | #GuardiWWins pic.twitter.com/HfUM6N6QUN
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 9, 2026
On Thursday, there were multiple lead changes and thrilling moments, but the surging Guardians’ offense came out on top, led by superstar Jose Ramirez and catcher Patrick Bailey.
Messick couldn’t even complete three innings, being yanked in the third inning by manager Stephen Vogt. He ended up allowing two runs in 2.1 frames, on two hits and a whopping four walks. He struck out five, but it wasn’t a good day for him. Thankfully, the bullpen and particularly the offense picked him up.
The home team ambushed Messick in that third inning, taking advantage of his inability to command the changeup. He surrendered a single and a double to open that frame, then struck out Randal Grichuk.
With one out, Messick walked Miguel Vargas to load the bases and then Munetaka Murakami to force in the first run of the game. Shawn Armstrong replaced the Cy Young candidate and immediately allowed a sac fly to Sam Antonacci, but did some damage control and got out of the inning.
The Guardians flipped the score in the fifth. Patrick Bailey, hitting for Austin Hedges, went yard to right field to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Later in the inning, Steven Kwan singled, setting up the scene for Ramirez to greet new pitcher Jordan Hicks with a go-ahead two-run shot against triple-digit heat. The Guardians were now in command, 3-2.
Gas meets GOAT.#GuardsBall | #StandGuard pic.twitter.com/S1IjfzKLSp
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 9, 2026
The home team made things interesting in the bottom of the fifth, though. Vogt made the bizarre decision to open that inning with Tanner Bibee, who hadn’t pitched since late September, and he got just one out and allowed two baserunners before departing.
Murakami greeted new pitcher Tim Herrin with a rocket of a single to load the bases. After that, Herrin hit Sam Antonacci with a pitch to tie the game at three runs apiece. Brenton Doyle then hit a sac fly to give the White Sox the 4-3 lead. Erik Sabrowski took the mound and struck out Braden Montgomery to get out of the jam.
Luckily for Cleveland, the offense had six runs in store in the sixth. The struggling Angel Martinez was hit by a pitch with one out, then stole second and scored the tying run on Travis Bazzana’s double. Bailey, Ramirez, Chase DeLauter, and Jo Adell all hit RBI singles in the frame, with the latter bringing home two runs. In the blink of an eye, the Guardians made it a 9-4 ballgame, putting it out of reach for Chicago. Vargas’ ninth-inning homer against Cade Smith wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game.
Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two runs, a key homer, and three RBI. Bailey had two hits, including a solo dinger, scored twice, and drove in two. As a team, the Guardians walked seven times and fanned just three times, with 10 hits.
Except for Bibee and Smith, every Guardians reliever contributed a scoreless appearance: Armstrong, Herrin, Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, and Gavin Williams.
Smith was asked to toss two innings, but could only handle one as he surrendered Vargas’ blast in the ninth and then issued a walk to bring in Williams, who is still scheduled to start Game 5 as of Thursday night. The ‘Big Rig’ solved that frame to seal the win.
On Saturday, we will know if the Guardians will earn their right to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Championship Series or if they enter another long offseason.
NEXT: Analyst Is Staying Cautious Despite Guardians’ Crucial Game 3 Win
