José Ramírez Leads Guardians to Game 5 with Game 4 Win Over White Sox
The Cleveland Guardians avoided elimination for the second straight night, defeating the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday to even the American League Division Series at two games each. After trailing 2-0 in the series, Cleveland secured back-to-back road victories to force a winner-take-all Game 5.
José Ramírez provided the decisive blow for the Guardians, launching a go-ahead two-run home run and finishing the night with three RBIs. The blast was part of a relentless offensive push that saw Cleveland overcome an early deficit and silence the Chicago crowd.
A pinch-hit home run from Patrick Bailey in the fifth inning served as the initial spark for the Cleveland comeback. Bailey’s homer ignited a shift in momentum that culminated in a massive sixth inning where the Guardians scored six runs to pull away for good.
Managerial decisions played a key role as the Guardians evened the series.
The White Sox, who appeared to be in control of the series earlier in the week, struggled to contain the Guardians’ late-inning surges.
In a notable tactical move, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt turned to Gavin Williams to record the final three outs. Williams, who started Game 2 of the series, made his first career relief appearance to secure the win. The move effectively neutralized any potential Chicago rally in the ninth inning.
Cleveland now returns home with the ALDS series tied 2-2. The momentum has shifted entirely toward the Guardians, who have outscored the White Sox significantly over the last two contests.
The series concludes with Game 5 on Saturday night, October 10, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The winner will advance to the American League Championship Series to face Tampa Bay, with that series scheduled to begin next Monday.
