Cleveland Guardians pitchers combined to strike out 21 Chicago White Sox batters in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, setting a postseason record for strikeouts in a single game. The Guardians completed their comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the series, winning the game 2-0.
Gavin Williams started for Cleveland and dominated the White Sox, striking out 12 of the 21 batters he faced in 5.2 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and two walks, with a hit batsman. Jose Ramirez provided crucial support with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, which gave the Guardians a cushion they would not relinquish.
The Guardians' bullpen finished the game, with Erik Sabrowski, Evan Gaddis, and Cade Smith combining to get the final 10 outs and strike out nine batters. The White Sox, who have struggled with strikeouts all season, saw their rate balloon to 63.6% on Saturday, compared to their regular season rate of 24.1%.
The win sets up a matchup between the Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series. The Rays swept their AL East rival New York Yankees in the previous round. The ALCS will begin on Monday in Florida, with the winner advancing to the World Series to face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers.
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