Takeaways and evaluation from ALDS Sport 4

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Takeaways and evaluation from ALDS Sport 4

The Cleveland Guardians are back in business.

With a second consecutive win on the South Side over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night, the Guardians tied the American League Division Series, sending it back to Cleveland for a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday. A spot in the AL Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays is at stake.

Here’s what Cleveland’s latest victory means — and how it went down.

Key links:Mega-preview | Series outlooks | Bracket | Schedule

Takeaways

Cleveland Guardians 9, Chicago White Sox 5

It was over when … the Guardians put up six runs in the sixth inning, thanks to an implosion by the White Sox bullpen — something we haven’t seen all postseason. Jordan Hicks, Anthony Kay and Grant Taylor all gave up runs, as Cleveland peppered them with three consecutive bases-loaded singles to help put the game away. For the second night in a row, Jose Ramirez led the charge, hitting a home run and driving in three.

Stat that defined the game: The vaunted White Sox bullpen pitched 4⅔ innings in the middle of the game, giving up all nine runs.

Star who defined the game:Pitchers seem to have forgotten who Ramirez is. Yes, he is coming off his worst season in a decade. Yes, the power that has helped him morph from speedy spark plug to future Hall of Famer was sapped following a broken hamate bone in June. It returned in magnificent fashion Thursday in Cleveland’s must-win Game 4.

With the Guardians trailing 2-1, Ramirez took a 99.9 mph, top-of-the-zone sinker from Hicks and tomahawked it into the right-field stands to stake Cleveland to a 3-2 lead. The bat speed, the bat control, the timing — it was all there in the moment Cleveland needed Ramirez most. Another RBI on an infield single with the bases loaded helped key the Guardians’ six-run sixth inning. With a winner-takes-all Game 5 coming Saturday, Ramirez is finding the best version of himself again. Precisely when the Guardians need it.

What it means for the rest of the series: Game 5 sets up as more of a traditional starter-versus-starter contest. The Guardians are expected to send Gavin Williams (who got the final three outs of Game 4) to the mound and the White Sox will counter with Sean Burke. Chicago’s bullpen is taxed, so a day off will help — but it’s hard to know who Chicago can rely on after this Game 4 debacle. — Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers

Highlights from the Guardians’ win

Vargas helps gives White Sox some late life, though their ninth-inning rally falls short

https://x.com/MLB/status/2108401053687242835

Cleveland pouring it on …

https://x.com/MLB/status/2108384790689009874

https://x.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/2108384742945247596

Another ribbie for Bailey puts Guardians ahead again

https://x.com/MLB/status/2108382947619602595

https://x.com/MLB/status/2108381920354603241

Antonacci HBP + Doyle sac fly = White Sox back on top

https://x.com/MLB/status/2108378492861563157

J-Ram’s two-run blast gives Guardians the lead