White Sox return to Chicago with a chance to clinch ALDS at Rate Field

Postseason baseball is returning to Chicago with the White Sox one victory from the American League Championship Series. A 4-3 comeback win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday gave the Sox a 2-0 advantage in the American League Division Series, setting up a potential clincher at Rate Field on Wednesday.

Game 3 begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday. If Cleveland extends the series, Game 4 is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, also at Rate Field. That gives Chicago two opportunities to finish the series in front of its own fans, a meaningful homecoming after the team won its first four games of this postseason on the road.

The Sox last reached the ALCS in 2005, the year they won the World Series. Winning this round in Chicago would bring another milestone: the franchise has not clinched a postseason series at home since 1906. For supporters making afternoon plans, Wednesday offers a chance to see something generations of Sox fans have not experienced at their home ballpark.

Monday's victory included an RBI single by Munetaka Murakami in the fourth inning that narrowed Cleveland's lead to 2-1. Chase Meidroth later contributed an RBI single that pushed Chicago's advantage to 4-2. Cleveland's Jo Adell hit an RBI triple in the eighth, but the Sox held on despite an 11-strikeout performance by Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams.

Grant Taylor recorded his second consecutive save, allowing one hit across 1 1/3 innings. Taylor credited fans for continuing to support the club through its rebuilding years and said bringing them a postseason game would be especially meaningful. Manager Will Venable likewise emphasized the team's steady confidence and its excitement about playing playoff baseball for Chicago supporters.

That anticipation was already visible at a White Sox watch party at the Ramova Theater in Bridgeport. Lifelong fan Violeta Vasquez told NBC Chicago she had secured Wednesday and Thursday off work so she could attend. With a Wednesday afternoon start and a possible Thursday game, the schedule gives other fans concrete times to plan around as the Sox pursue their next postseason round.