Guardians Rally Past White Sox, Force Decisive Game 5
Authored by prc-kaiyunsports.com, 10/10/2026
Guardians Rally Past White Sox, Force Decisive Game 5
The Cleveland Guardians used an explosive sixth inning and a parade of eight pitchers to beat the Chicago White Sox in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Rate Field, evening the series at 2-2. The win forces a decisive Game 5 on Saturday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland, with the winner advancing to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Championship Series.
Cleveland trailed 4-3 after Chicago retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth, following home runs from pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey and third baseman José Ramírez earlier in the frame. The Guardians answered in the top of the sixth, sending multiple batters to the plate against three Chicago relievers. A hit-by-pitch from left-hander Anthony Kay opened the door, and Travis Bazzana's RBI double tied the game before right-hander Grant Taylor entered and allowed a string of hits and walks - including a bases-loaded, two-run single from designated hitter Jo Adell - that turned a one-run deficit into a 9-4 Cleveland lead. Taylor did not record an out in the appearance. ipbl
Rookie left-hander Parker Messick, who finished the regular season with a 2.56 ERA over 32 starts and 186 innings, struggled uncharacteristically on short rest-adjusted command, lasting just 2 1/3 innings and walking four of the 13 batters he faced. The two teams combined for 15 walks in the game. Chicago's pitching staff showed the strain of a taxing series, using 14 pitchers over its last 18 innings; none of the White Sox starters in the past two games - Hagen Smith twice, Kay, and Sean Newcomb - have completed more than roughly two innings.
Cleveland's Game 2 starter, Gavin Williams, closed out Game 4 with 18 pitches out of the bullpen, making him an unlikely candidate to start Saturday. Neither club had named a Game 5 starter as of Thursday's final out, but both are expected to deploy their full bullpens in the winner-take-all matchup, with a trip to face the Rays in the ALCS on the line.