White Sox surge past Guardians 4-3 to take 2-0 lead in ALDS and move within 1 win of ALCS

CLEVELAND (AP) — The White Sox are returning to Chicago one win from advancing to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 21 years.

Braden Montgomery lined a two-run double down the right-field line in the sixth inning for the go-ahead runs and Sean Burke allowed one hit in 5 1/3 innings of impressive relief as the White Sox rallied past the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.

Game 3 is Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the White Sox have two chances to do something they haven't done since 1906 — clinch a postseason series at home.

“They've been waiting 120 years, so maybe we can do it this year,” said Grant Taylor, who worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed one hit as he got his second straight save. "I think it’s going to be unbelievable. Those fans deserve it. They’ve been with us for three years of 100 losses and they’ve been with us a good bit this year giving us a lot of support as we’ve gone through this. So being able to give them a postseason game is going to be pretty special."

The surprising White Sox improved to 4-0 in these playoffs — all on the road — and are one win from reaching the ALCS for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005. Chicago became the first team to reach the postseason after three straight 100-loss seasons, including a post-1900 record 121 defeats in 2024.

“Our club has been confident the entire year, regardless of the previous result,” manager Will Venable said. “They come in ready to play and turn the page. Now, we’re really excited to get playoff baseball to our fans.”

Munetaka Murakami hit an RBI single in the fourth to get Chicago within 2-1. Chase Meidroth added an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-2.

Jo Adell hit an RBI triple in the eighth and Chase DeLauter had two hits for the Guardians.

Gavin Williams struck out 11, tied for second-most by a Cleveland pitcher in a postseason game. But the offense failed to produce for the second straight game.

“We have had two-game stretches like this all year and we come right back. I've got a lot of faith in this offense. I have a lot of faith in this team,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “We've got our work cut out for us. Like I said, this team plays its best with its back against the wall.”

The White Sox went ahead with a three-run sixth.

Miguel Vargas led off with a base hit to chase Williams and advanced to second on a groundout. Randal Grichuk drew a walk before a wild pitch by losing pitcher Erik Sabrowski with Tommy Pham at the plate advanced the runners to second and third. Pham flied out to shallow left before Montgomery jumped on a first-pitch fastball to drive in the go-ahead runs.

Montgomery celebrated at second base before scoring on Meidroth’s single to right.

“I was just ready for something to attack, and I was ready for his hardest stuff. I gave myself my best chance to succeed," Montgomery said. “I can’t even describe how it felt. It’s exhilarating. I was just taking it all in.”

Burke came on with one out in the third. After Travis Bazzana walked with one out in the fourth, the right-hander retired 13 straight batters until DeLauter got a base hit to end Burke's night.

Burke struck out six and threw 83 pitches, including 53 strikes, to earn the win.

“I was able to settle in and find my groove,” Burke said. “I’ve had openers before, but not in this situation, so I talked with a lot of guys. It’s just normal baseball when you get into that game.”

Taylor entered and allowed an RBI triple to Adell before Nathaniel Lowe flied out to end the eighth.

After getting shut out Saturday, the Guardians struck quickly with a pair of runs in the first.

Steven Kwan led off with a single and José Ramírez walked before Chase DeLauter's grounder off opener Anthony Kay moved the runners to second and third. Sean Newcomb came on and intentionally walked Adell to load the bases. Lowe hit a high chopper to drive in Kwan, but Newcomb threw it wide of the bag at first, allowing Ramírez to score on the error.

It marked the first time in four games this postseason the White Sox were behind.

Kay faced three batters and threw 17 pitches, including eight strikes.

Williams didn’t allow a hit until Kyle Teel led off the fourth with a single.

The right-hander allowed two runs and four hits in five-plus innings. He had eight strikeouts in the first three innings and became the first Cleveland pitcher to strike out five straight in a postseason game.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Sean Burke talks to reporters after Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth, left, and Colson Montgomery, right, celebrate after Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, right, forces out Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery (12) on a double play ball hit by Sam Antonacci in the third inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series in Cleveland, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago White Sox's Kyle Teel, right, scores off an RBI-single by baseman Munetaka Murakami ahead of Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago White Sox's Tristan Peters, left, reacts after striking out during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams celebrates after completing the top of the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Chicago White Sox's Braden Montgomery (24) watches his 2-run double during the sixth inning of Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Sloppy defense put the New York Yankees on the brink of elimination.

Four errors and another defensive miscue led to three unearned runs that a lineup missing three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge couldn't overcome during a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of their AL Division Series on Monday night.

The Yankees are one defeat from falling short of a 28th World Series title for the 17th straight season.

“Obviously, a really rough night to say the least for us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve got to get over it. We’ve responded all year to difficult times, and we’ve got to do that again. We’ve got to get ourselves up off the mat.”

Even with likely AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler on the mound, the Yankees couldn't even the best-of-five series against the pesky Rays.

The small-ball Rays chased Schlittler in the fifth, aided by New York’s miscues in the field as the Yankees' defense unraveled the same way it did in the team's most recent World Series game two years ago against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I'm not disappointed in the defense. I'm not disappointed in the offense,” Schlittler said. “I'm disappointed in myself.”

Jonathan Aranda lined a single off Schlittler to start the bottom of the fifth and Junior Caminero ripped a double to right-center. With the infield drawn-in except second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was standing several feet further back on the dirt, Liam Hicks hit a slow bouncer to second that scored Aranda for a 2-1 lead. Chisholm’s only play was at first because he wasn’t all the way in like the rest of the infielders.

Chandler Simpson then hit a grounder that rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. flubbed, scoring Caminero to make it 3-1. It was initially ruled a hit and then changed to an error and eventually a fielder’s choice. Brent Headrick replaced Schlittler and struck out Victor Mesa Jr. After Simpson stole second, Jonny DeLuca reached on a grounder when Lombard’s throw to first was wide for New York’s fourth error.

Richie Palacios followed with a two-run single to center that increased Tampa Bay’s lead to 5-1.

“It was just one of those things that it all happened back-to-back-to-back,” Lombard said.

Ben Rice connected for his second homer of the game in the eighth, but that wasn't enough. New York's Nos. 3 through 7 batters are 0 for 33 in the two games.

“You've got to be confident even when you go down 2-0,” Rice said. “You've got to take it game by game, at-bat by at-bat.”

The night started poorly for the Yankees. New York became the first team to commit three errors in the first inning of a postseason game since the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1975 American League Championship Series against Boston, according to Sportsnet Stats.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon misplayed a bouncer by Yandy Díaz to begin the bottom of the first. After Aranda singled, Caminero hit a bouncer up the middle. Lombard fielded the ball behind the bag and flipped to second for a forceout, but Chisholm’s ill-advised, off-balance throw to first sailed wide, allowing Díaz to score and Caminero to reach second.

Hicks struck out but reached on catcher’s interference, with an error charged to Austin Wells. The 21-year-old Lombard then saved Chisholm from another error when he extended to catch a high toss to second following a sharp grounder by Simpson. Lombard came off the bag and quickly reached back with his leg to beat Hicks and get the second out.

Schlittler retired Mesa on a grounder to prevent more damage.

“Some good defenders that didn’t make a couple plays,” Boone said. “We've got to get over it, though. As simple as that. I mean, we can’t dwell on what just happened to us. We’ve got to come ready, again playing for our lives on Wednesday night, and I expect this team to do that.

“We’ve stared a lot of uncertainty in the face all year and these guys have responded time and time again and we need to do that again right now.”

The Yankees infamously fell apart on defense in the fifth inning of Game 5 in the 2024 World Series. Leading 5-0 with Gerrit Cole on the mound, New York committed two errors and a mental lapse while allowing five unearned runs to score, and the Dodgers went on to win the game and clinch the championship.

“It didn’t seem like we really showed up today,” Schlittler said before walking that statement back and reiterating his frustration over the way he pitched.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler leaves Game 2 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz (2) is congratulated by manager Kevin Cash after scoring during the first inning in Game 2 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the New York Yankees Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone prepares for the start of Game 2 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler throws during the first inning in Game 2 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, flips over Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda, left, while committing a throwing error allowing Rays' Yandy Díaz to score during the first inning in Game 2 of an American League Division Series baseball game Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)