Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-06 · by Joe Reedy The Associated Press
The Chicago White Sox won Game 2 of their American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, taking a 2-0 series lead. Braden Montgomery's two-run double in the sixth inning and Sean Burke's strong relief pitching were key factors in the 4-3 victory. The White Sox now have two chances to clinch their first ALCS appearance since 2005 at home in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Monday, Game 2 of the American League Division Series between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians took place in Cleveland. The White Sox secured a commanding 2-0 lead after defeating the Guardians with a score of 4-3, putting them one win away from advancing to the ALCS for the first time since 1906. Despite being heavy underdogs, the White Sox rallied behind strong relief pitching performances by Anthony Kay and Sean Burke, who allowed only one hit over 5 1/3 innings. Braden Montgomery's decisive two-run double in the sixth inning provided the go-ahead runs, while Cleveland's offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving seven runners on base. The Guardians now face the daunting task of avoiding a sweep when they travel to Chicago for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Written for “White Sox Lead Guardians In Alds” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
The White Sox are returning to Chicago one win from advancing to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 21 years.
asserted
Sox → return → 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.
asserted
Sox → line → 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.
asserted
they → have → 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.
asserted
he → wait → save
“I think it’s going to be unbelievable.
asserted
it → think → ?
Those fans deserve it.
asserted
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.
asserted
we → give → this
So being able to give them a postseason game is going to be pretty special.”
asserted
being → give → game
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.
asserted
Sox → improve → 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.
asserted
Chicago → become → 2024
“Our club has been confident the entire year, regardless of the previous result,” manager Will Venable said.
asserted
Venable → say → result
“They come in ready to play and turn the page.
asserted
They → come → page
Now, we’re really excited to get playoff baseball to our fans.”
asserted
we → ’re → fans
Munetaka Murakami hit an RBI single in the fourth to get Chicago within 2-1.
asserted
Murakami → hit → 2
Chase Meidroth added an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-2.
asserted
Meidroth → add → 4
Gavin Williams struck out 11, tied for second-most by a Cleveland pitcher in a postseason game.
asserted
Williams → strike → game
But the offense failed to produce for the second straight game.
asserted
offense → fail → game
“We have had two-game stretches like this all year and we come right back.
asserted
we → come → this
I’ve got a lot of faith in this offense.
asserted
I → get → offense
I have a lot of faith in this team,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.
asserted
Vogt → have → team
“We’ve got our work cut out for us.
asserted
work → get → us
Like I said, this team plays its best with its back against the wall.”
asserted
team → say → wall
3-run sixth propels the White Sox
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.
asserted
Vargas → propel → 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.
asserted
pitch → draw → second
Pham flied out to shallow left before Montgomery jumped on a first-pitch fastball to drive in the go-ahead runs.
asserted
Montgomery → flie → 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.
asserted
I → celebrate → stuff
I gave myself my best chance to succeed,” Montgomery said.
asserted
Montgomery → give → chance
“I can’t even describe how it felt.
asserted
it → describe → ?
It’s exhilarating.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
I was just taking it all in.”
asserted
I → take → it
Burke came on with one out in the third.
asserted
Burke → come → 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.
asserted
DeLauter → walk → night
Burke struck out six and threw 83 pitches, including 53 strikes, to earn the win.
asserted
Burke → strike → win
“I was able to settle in and find my groove,” Burke said.
asserted
Burke → settle → groove
“I’ve had openers before, but not in this situation, so I talked with a lot of guys.
asserted
I → have → guys
It’s just normal baseball when you get into that game.”
asserted
you → ’ → game
Taylor entered and allowed an RBI triple to Adell before Nathaniel Lowe flied out to end the eighth.
asserted
Lowe → enter → eighth
Guardians get on the board quickly
asserted
Guardians → get → board
After getting shut out Saturday, the Guardians struck quickly with a pair of runs in the first.
asserted
Guardians → shut → first
Steven Kwan led off with a single and José Ramírez walked
asserted
Ramírez → lead → single
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
