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The Chicago White Sox are one victory away from advancing to the American League Championship Series after taking down the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 in Game 2 of the ALDS on Monday. Right-hander Sean Burke, typically a starting pitcher, emerged as the standout performer with a stellar long relief appearance.
Burke took over after Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb combined to surrender two earned runs over 2 1/3 innings. He promptly halted Cleveland's momentum, tossing 5 1/3 innings while giving up just one hit. This marked Burke's second postseason outing; in his first against the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card Series, he yielded three earned runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in four innings, a performance that still helped the White Sox clinch a 7-3 win and a two-game sweep to reach the ALDS.
Burke's Pitching Mix Provides a Lifeline
With a 1-0 series edge, Chicago needed a starter to force the Guardians into an early retreat while relying on the offense to deliver. Kay struggled, allowing a leadoff single to Steven Kwan and a walk to José Ramírez before getting Chase DeLauter to ground out and handing the ball to Newcomb in a first-inning jam. Newcomb gave up two runs but escaped further damage. Meanwhile, Gavin Williams was shutting down the White Sox, firing fastballs over 100 mph and needing just 15 pitches in the first inning.
Burke entered in the third inning and retired 14 consecutive batters before DeLauter's two-out single in the eighth. He excelled by inducing weak, early-count contact, leaning on off-speed pitches, curveballs, and sinkers more than the fastballs Kay and Newcomb favored. This approach caused Cleveland hitters to consistently miss-hit or roll over early pitches. After a walk in the fourth, Burke found a rhythm, retiring 13 straight Guardians with elevated 95 mph four-seamers, and 20% of the time when hitters geared up for heat, he threw a high-spin knuckle curve.
Offensive Support and Bullpen Finish
Burke's 83 pitches helped the White Sox offense patiently solve Williams' fastballs. In the fourth, Munetaka Murakami's RBI single cut the deficit in half. The sixth inning saw Chicago plate three runs, including two on a double by Braden Montgomery, and Chase Meidroth's single drove Montgomery home to give the South Siders a 4-2 lead. Burke exited for Grant Taylor, who came on with two outs in the eighth and allowed Jo Adell to narrow the gap to 4-3 before delivering a perfect ninth inning.
White Sox in Command Heading into Game 3
The White Sox's postseason run continues, and fans can now envision an ALCS berth. Historically, teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series win 80 out of 90 times, with 54 of those ending in a 3-0 sweep. Game 3 against the Guardians is set for Wednesday at Rate Field, marking their first home postseason game since 2021. The South Siders are 4-0 this postseason and can reach the ALCS for the first time since 2005 with a win. Both teams will use a bullpen game, with Newcomb opening for Chicago and Daniel Espino for Cleveland. With home-field advantage, the White Sox appear well-positioned to finish the job.
Originally reported by yahoo.