| Quick Answer The Chicago White Sox won. They beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Chicago now leads the best-of-five series 2-0 and needs one more win to reach the ALCS. |
Cleveland had the lead, a strikeout machine on the mound and the home crowd behind it. It still lost. If you searched White Sox vs Guardians to find out who won, the short answer is Chicago, 4-3, thanks to one wild sixth inning. Here is the final score, how the game played out and what comes next.
White Sox vs Guardians Final Score: Game 2 of the ALDS
The White Sox won Game 2, 4-3, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Here is the inning-by-inning line score:
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| White Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| Guardians | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Winning pitcher: Sean Burke. Losing pitcher: Erik Sabrowski. Save: Grant Taylor.
How the White Sox Beat the Guardians: Game Recap
Cleveland jumps out early
The Guardians scored twice in the first inning, and for a while that looked like enough. Starter Gavin Williams was sharp. He struck out 11 batters through five innings and held Chicago to one run, which came in the fourth and made it 2-1.
The sixth inning flips the game
Williams was back out for the sixth, allowing a baserunner. Cleveland brought in lefty Erik Sabrowski, and it all fell apart from there. He walked pinch hitter Randal Grichuk before throwing a wild pitch that advanced both runners to scoring position.
This set up a chance for 23-year-old Braden Montgomery, who wasted little time before jumping on the first pitch and lining a two-run double to the right field, putting Chicago in front, 3-2. Chase Meidroth followed by singling him home to make it, 4-2.
Burke and the bullpen shut the door
The White Sox went with a bullpen game, and it paid off. Burke came in with one out in the third and gave up just one hit and one earned run while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings to stop the bleeding. He used just 83 pitches. Chicago used a bull pen intensive style all season and had a major league leading 11 bullpen games.
A late scare in the eighth
Cleveland pushed one more run across in the eighth, charged to Burke, to make it 4-3. Manager Will Venable then called on Grant Taylor to face Jo Adell. Taylor had thrown four innings for the save in Game 1 two days earlier, and he got the job done again.
Key Moments From White Sox vs Guardians
- Williams dominates, then leaves. Eleven strikeouts in five innings, but Cleveland could not protect the lead after he exited.
- The wild pitch. It moved Chicago into scoring position and set up the biggest at-bat of the night.
- Montgomery’s two-run double. It turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead in one swing.
- Burke’s relief outing. One hit allowed in 5⅓ innings kept Cleveland quiet for most of the night.
- Taylor closes it. Back-to-back postseason saves for the same reliever in two days.
Stats That Explain the Result
The box score tells the story. Chicago out-hit Cleveland 6-4, and it made its chances count.
| Stat | White Sox | Guardians |
| Runs | 4 | 3 |
| Hits | 6 | 4 |
| Errors | 1 | 1 |
| With runners in scoring position | 3-for-8 | 0-for-5 |
| Top pitching line | Burke: 5⅓ IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 6 K | Williams: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 11 K |
The gap with runners in scoring position is the whole game. Cleveland went hitless in five tries. Chicago cashed in three times.
What Is Next in the White Sox vs Guardians Series?
The White Sox lead the best-of-five ALDS 2-0. Game 3 is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Chicago, listed for 4:00 p.m. ET. A win would send the White Sox to the ALCS for the first time in 21 years.
If Cleveland wins, Game 4 is Thursday, Oct. 8, in Chicago. A Game 5, if needed, is Saturday, Oct. 10, back in Cleveland. Check the official MLB schedule to confirm start times.
Why This White Sox vs Guardians Series Matters
This is Chicago’s first postseason visit since 2021. The White Sox swept Houston in the wild-card round, and they’d won nine of their last 11 games heading into this series. Cleveland counts on closer Cade Smith, who tied the MLB lead with 41 saves, but he never got a lead to protect in Game 2. Now the Guardians have to win three straight to survive.
White Sox vs Guardians FAQ
Who won the White Sox vs Guardians game?
The Chicago White Sox won. They beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Game 2 of the American League Division Series in Cleveland.
What was the final score of White Sox vs Guardians?
The final score was White Sox 4, Guardians 3. Chicago scored three runs in the sixth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit.
Who got the win, loss and save?
Sean Burke earned the win with 5⅓ innings of relief. Erik Sabrowski took the loss for Cleveland, and Grant Taylor got the save for Chicago.
What is the White Sox vs Guardians series score?
The White Sox lead the best-of-five ALDS 2-0 after winning Game 1, 3-0, and Game 2, 4-3. One more win sends them to the AL Championship Series.
When is the next White Sox vs Guardians game?
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago. Game 4, if needed, is Thursday, Oct. 8, in Chicago.
How many games are in the ALDS?
The ALDS is a best-of-five series. The first team to win three games moves on to the American League Championship Series.
Final Word
Chicago found a way to win a game it trailed, and now it is one win from the ALCS. Check back after Game 3 for the next recap and the updated series score.
Helpful Resources
Scores and stats here come from box score data and coverage from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and the Associated Press. For more detail, read:
