Guardians Face Elimination After ALDS Game 2 Loss to White Sox

In the 48 hours after the Cleveland Guardians’ loss to the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS, the team had a "flush it and move on" mindset, with their eyes set on winning Game 2.

However, that approach alone wasn’t enough for the Guardians, as the White Sox came out on top once again with a final score of 4-3.

Game 1’s loss felt like a carbon copy of Game 2’s disappointing defeat: a stellar outing from the starting pitcher, but a lineup that couldn’t provide enough run support to give the team a chance to win. Oh, and a solid defensive player from Angel Martinez in left field.

The biggest difference for Cleveland on Monday night was that it had a chance to win after a strong start and brief late life, but those proved to be an anomaly over nine innings.

Part of the changes the Guardians needed to make in Game 2 was to put up better-quality at-bats. That improved plate presence was felt in the first inning.

Chicago’s opener Anthony Kay couldn’t find the zone in the 0.2 innings he pitched. The White Sox pitcher allowed Steven Kwan to get on base via a hit, walked Jose Ramirez, and intentionally walked Nathaniel Lowe to load the bases.

The process proved successful as Cleveland scored two early runs, albeit on a Lowe base hit with a launch angle of -23, directly into the dirt in front of home plate, and a Sean Newcomb throwing error. After scoring zero runs in Game 1, the Guardians found themselves with a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2.

With an early lead and one of Cleveland’s two legitimate aces on the mound, the Guardians gave themselves a great chance at tying the series up, but that's not what happened. 

Gavin Williams was cruising through Chicago’s lineup the first time through. He didn't give up a single hit until the fourth inning, but that’s also when Cleveland’s starter began to face some adversity.

After a base hit to Kyle Teel, a walk issued to Miguel Vargas, and a base hit by Munetaka Murakami, the White Sox got on the board to make a one-run game. Williams got out of the jam, but it became evident very quickly that the pitcher was running out of gas after lighting up the radar gun all game long.

Even though Williams punched out 11 batters, making franchise history in the process, he still wasn't in line for the win.

Erik Sabrowski came in to the game as relief for Williamms, and immediately struggled to find the zone. The left-hander didn't make it out of the inning and allowed two earned runs on top of one inherited run.

In the blink of an eye, the Guardians' lead turned into a 4-2 deficit, which felt insurmountable with how Cleveland had been swinging their bats. And with Sean Burke on the mound, who has dominated the Guardians all year, a comeback felt more like a dream than a realistic possibility.

Burke was just about perfect against Cleveland. He pitched 5.1 innings, gave up only one hit, and struck out six batters.

Cleveland did, for a second, have the sold-out crowd at Progressive Field on the edge of their seat after Jo Adell blasted an RBI triple off Grant Taylor in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Unfortunately, Cleveland went silent in the ninth inning with Angel Martinez, Travis Bazzana, and Patrick Bailey on five total pitches.

Now, the mindset is clear: it’s win or go home for the Guardians in Game 3. This time, they won’t be playing in front of their home crowd.