The Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are each one victory away from the American League Championship Series after taking 2-0 leads in their respective Division Series on Monday.
Chicago rallied past Cleveland, 4-3, before Tampa Bay capitalized on four New York errors to beat the Yankees, 5-2. Both losing teams now must win three consecutive games to keep their seasons alive.
White Sox 4, Guardians 3
Cleveland struck first at Progressive Field. Steven Kwan singled, José Ramírez walked, and Chase DeLauter advanced both runners with a groundout. After Jo Adell was intentionally walked, Nathaniel Lowe hit a grounder that scored Kwan. Sean Newcomb’s errant throw to first allowed Ramírez to score, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
Gavin Williams protected the early advantage with a dominant performance, striking out 11 over five-plus innings. The White Sox cut the deficit to one on Munetaka Murakami’s RBI single in the fourth, then took control with three runs in the sixth.
Miguel Vargas opened the inning with a single. Murakami moved him to second with a groundout, and pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk drew a walk. A wild pitch advanced both runners before rookie Braden Montgomery lined a two-run double down the right-field line to put Chicago ahead, 3-2. Chase Meidroth followed with an RBI single.
Sean Burke held Cleveland to one hit and one run over 5 1/3 innings of relief, striking out six. The Guardians threatened in the eighth when Jo Adell tripled home Chase DeLauter, but Grant Taylor retired Lowe to preserve the lead and completed a four-out save in the ninth.
Chicago has won four consecutive games to begin the postseason, all on the road. The White Sox can advance to their first ALCS since 2005 with a victory Wednesday at Rate Field.
Rays 5, Yankees 2
The Yankees’ defense helped Tampa Bay take the lead in the first inning and ultimately buried New York in a four-error night at Tropicana Field.
Yandy Díaz reached on an error by third baseman Ryan McMahon and advanced on a Jonathan Aranda single. Díaz scored when Jazz Chisholm Jr. made an errant throw while trying to complete a double play on Junior Caminero’s grounder. Austin Wells was also charged with catcher’s interference during the inning, one of three first-inning errors by the Yankees.
Ben Rice tied the game with a solo home run off Freddy Peralta in the fourth, but the Rays broke it open with four runs in the fifth.
Aranda singled, and Caminero doubled before Liam Hicks delivered a run-scoring groundout. Chandler Simpson brought home another run on an infield single. After Schlittler left the game, Richie Palacios capped the inning with a two-run single off Brent Headrick.
Schlittler was charged with four runs, two earned, on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. Headrick allowed the fifth run, which was unearned.
The Yankees managed four hits, with Rice accounting for both New York runs on a pair of solo home runs.
Peralta allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings, Ian Seymour worked three innings, and Bryan Baker closed the game for his second save of the postseason.
The Rays will try to clinch the series Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Tuesday’s Postseason Schedule
The National League Division Series resume Tuesday with both matchups shifting to new ballparks.
The Dodgers and Braves, tied at one game apiece, meet at Truist Park at 5 p.m. CT. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start for Los Angeles against Chris Sale.
Milwaukee carries a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 against San Diego at Petco Park. Dustin May is scheduled to start for the Brewers against Nick Pivetta at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Both games will air on FS1 and FOX One.
