Pitching clinic secures the opening win
The Chicago White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the American League Division Series on Saturday. Five Chicago pitchers combined for a three-hitter to shut out the Cleveland Guardians 3-0. This win means Chicago has now won nine of their last 11 games, continuing a strong run that started at the end of the regular season.
The White Sox used a bullpen game for the second time in three postseason games. It worked perfectly. Chicago pitchers struck out 12 batters throughout the game.
Starter Hagen Smith retired the first eight Cleveland hitters. He then walked three consecutive batters to load the bases in the third inning. Bryan Hudson came in to get the final out of the inning and earned the win. Grant Taylor secured the save by pitching four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six.
Bats deliver key runs for Chicago
Chicago got the scoring started in the fourth inning. Miguel Vargas led off with a single. Munetaka Murakami then hit a massive 440-foot home run to right field off Cleveland starter Parker Messick. It was Murakami's first postseason home run.
The White Sox added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Colson Montgomery hit a double down the left-field line to drive in Kyle Teel, making the final score 3-0. Chicago had previously advanced to this series after sweeping Houston in the wild card round.
The Guardians struggled to convert their opportunities. They loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings but failed to score. Travis Bazzana got Cleveland's first hit with a double in the fourth. Messick took the loss after giving up two runs in four and a third innings. Cleveland had won the AL Central title by just one game over the White Sox, but they could not find their offense in this game.
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