Guardians stay alive, 9-3, behind two triples and 19 strikeouts

The Guardians beat the White Sox 9-3 Wednesday and forced a fourth game in their American League Division Series. Chicago still leads the best-of-five series 2-1, but Cleveland answered two quiet losses with 11 hits, 10 walks and its first postseason win of 2026.

Chicago scored first on Kyle Teel's double in the opening inning. Cleveland's response came in the third. Steven Kwan tied the game with an RBI single, then Jo Adell drove a three-run triple into right field. One inning turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead.

The third inning changed the elimination game

The White Sox stayed within two runs through six innings. José Ramírez finally opened the margin with a two-run triple in the eighth. Angel Genao doubled home another run in the ninth, and Brayan Rocchio followed with an RBI single. Cleveland did not leave the game sitting on one swing.

Daniel Espino recorded two outs before Cleveland turned the game over to six relievers. The seven pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts. Foster Griffin struck out seven over 2 2/3 innings, and Cade Smith struck out five across two scoreless innings. Chicago finished with six hits.

A pitching relay created room

The offensive line matters beyond the nine runs. Cleveland drew 10 walks after scoring only three runs across the first two games. The Guardians created repeated traffic, then Adell and Ramírez delivered the two swings that separated the clubs.

Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern at Rate Field. The White Sox remain one win from advancing. Cleveland now has a simpler assignment: make the broader offensive approach travel one more day and force a deciding Game 5.

Alive is not the same as level

Schedule correction, October 8: MLB's current game record lists Game 4 at 8 p.m. Eastern. An earlier version of this article listed 5 p.m. The original Game 3 publication and source-check dates are retained; the start time was rechecked October 8.