Cleveland Guardians stay alive in ALDS, deny White Sox clinch at home
Chicago held a 2-0 series lead and struck first on a Kyle Teel double before Cleveland's bats broke through
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Chicago White Sox last clinched a postseason series at home when Jiggs Donahue and George Davis helped the South Siders defeat the Chicago Cubs in Game 6 of the 1906 World Series.
More than a century later, the White Sox came up short Thursday in their bid to clinch a spot in the American League Championship Series on their home field, falling to the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 3. The Guardians haven't made it to what is effectively the MLB's playoffs semifinals since 2005.
The White Sox entered the potential ALDS-clinching game with a 2-0 series lead and struck first when catcher Kyle Teel doubled to right field, driving in the game’s first run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fans arrive prior to Game 3 of the American League Division Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 7, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
WHITE SOX RIDE ANOTHER DRAMATIC COMEBACK WIN TO BEAT GUARDIANS AND TAKE COMMANDING 2-0 ALDS LEAD
The Guardians recorded two triples in a postseason game for the first time in franchise history. They became the first major league team to accomplish the feat since the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
Adell, Ramírez, Bailey and Brayan Rocchio each had two of the team’s 11 hits — a complete turnaround for the AL Central champions after they managed just three runs and seven hits in the first two games of the series combined.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate after scoring on an RBI triple by Jo Adell during the third inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Chicago won its first four games in a surprising postseason appearance after going 60-102 last year. It was backed by a frenzied crowd of 40,590 for the franchise’s first home playoff game since 2021, but there wasn’t much for the fans to cheer in the final innings.
Chase Meidroth #10 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates after scoring a run against the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago, Ill. (Getty Images)
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Parker Messick is scheduled to start for Cleveland in Game 4 on Thursday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wednesday marked Chicago’s first home playoff game since 2021 and another milestone in a surprising season. The White Sox had lost a combined 324 games over the previous three years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.