The Cleveland Guardians were two games down and nearly out. They will instead play a winner-take-all Game 5 at home on Saturday night, after beating the Chicago White Sox 9-5 in Game 4 to tie their American League Division Series at two games each.
Cleveland trailed 4-3 heading into the sixth inning on Thursday before the offence erupted, scoring six runs in the frame to seize control. It was the second straight night the Guardians had scored nine runs to stave off elimination, having also won Game 3 by 9-3 after losing the opening two games of the series at home.
The comeback hinged on the middle of the order. A two-run home run headlined the rally, and the lineup that had managed only three runs across the first two games has now produced 18 in the two games since. The series returns to Cleveland, where the Guardians lost twice to open it, with a place in the American League Championship Series on the line.
The winner will face the Tampa Bay Rays, who swept the New York Yankees to claim the first spot in the ALCS. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers have already advanced and will meet for the pennant.
The White Sox, who swept Houston in the wild-card round for their first postseason series win since 2005, now face the same elimination game they have twice imposed on Cleveland. First pitch in Game 5 is set for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Saturday.
There is a quiet symmetry to Saturday’s decider. Chicago built its 2-0 lead by holding Cleveland’s bats silent; Cleveland forced the fifth game by making that same lineup look unstoppable. One of those versions is an illusion, and nine innings at Progressive Field will settle which. The Rays, rested and waiting, will be watching as closely as anyone.
