The White Sox earn another dramatic victory to beat the Guardians and take a 2-0 lead in the ALDS

The Chicago White Sox are inching closer and closer to one of the most improbable playoff runs in recent history, after securing another come-from-behind victory Monday night.

Chicago won Game 1 of its series against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday afternoon behind a parade of relief pitchers and four heroic innings from Grant Taylor to complete the victory. A mammoth 440-foot home run by Munetaka Murakami in the fourth inning gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish, with the Guardians leaving seven runners on base and going 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

Monday night, however, Cleveland looked to turn things around. The Guardians took an early 2-0 lead when pitcher Sean Newcomb, replacing starter Anthony Kay, made a throwing error on a Nathaniel Lowe grounder.

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However, in the 4th round, Murakami struck again. After Kyle Teel singled and Miguel Vargas walked, Murakami hit a hard grounder to the right side of the infield to drive in Teel.

Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

With Cleveland still leading 2-1, the big blow came a few innings later from another Chicago rookie.

In the sixth inning, Vargas led off with a single and Randal Grichuk walked after Murakami struck out. Reliever Erik Sabrowski threw a wild pitch that put both runners on second and third, but Tommy Pham flied out without scoring the tying run. Braden Montgomery, however, kept his promises.

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On the very first pitch, Montgomery delivered a double to right field, bringing in both runners and giving the White Sox their first lead, 3-2.

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With high-leverage Cleveland reliever Hunter Gaddis now in the game, Chase Meidroth threw a blooper to right, scoring Montgomery and extending the lead to 4-2.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery celebrates his two-run double against the Cleveland Guardians in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on October 5, 2026. (IMAGINE IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The Guardians built their own rally in the bottom of the 8th, with Chase DeLauter picking off loose pitcher Sean Burke with two outs. White Sox manager Will Venable brought back Grant Taylor, just two days after he threw 42 pitches in Game 1. It backfired, with Jo Adell smashing a 413-foot triple off the top of the left-center field wall to make the score 4-3.

Taylor recovered to pick up Lowe and send the game to the 9th. Remarkably, he finished it himself on just five pitches, putting Angel Martinez, Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey in order. Two appearances in three days, covering 5.1 innings and 49 pitches. This is what playoff legends are made of.

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Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Grant Taylor reacts after a victory against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tim Phillis)

The series now moves to the south side of Chicago on Wednesday, with neither team having announced a starter. But this victory makes the White Sox the heavy favorites to advance to the ALCS against the winner of the Yankees-Rays series and continue a remarkable season.

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Just two years after losing 121 games and becoming the laughing stock of the league, the White Sox quickly rebuilt. Smart trades, like acquiring Miguel Vargas from the Dodgers before the 2024 trade deadline, combined with Murakami’s stellar debut season and solid player development. Players like Montgomery, Colson Montgomery, Meidroth, Taylor and Kyle Teel grew up in their farm system, which allowed them to score the most points in the American League in 2026.

Cleveland, meanwhile, needs three straight wins to extend its season and avoid another playoff disappointment. To do that, they’ll have to take down a team that has yet to lose in the playoffs and has the Pope behind them.