Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox ALDS Game 5 instant reactions
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CLEVELAND — The Guardians have advanced to the American League Championship Series for the second time in three years.
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Cleveland punched its ticket to the ALCS, where the Tampa Bay Rays await, by defeating the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the AL Division Series on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Progressive Field.
Seven-time All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and starter Gavin Williams pitched a gem.
Here are Guardians-White Sox ALDS Game 5 instant reactions from Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich.
Guardians-White Sox ALDS Game 5. Ryan Lewis' instant reaction
The White Sox couldn't close out the Guardians in multiple games in September as Cleveland captured the division title. The White Sox couldn't close out the Guardians after holding a lead in Game 3. They couldn't close them out while holding a lead in Game 4. And they couldn't close them out in the series after holding a 2-0 lead. The Guardians always kept coming back. José Ramírez had his superstar moment in this series with an incredible three-game run, all while facing elimination. And Gavin Williams had as much of an ace effort as you'll see. The Guardians were willed to a series win, and the White Sox will have to learn lessons of not being able to close out teams when they had the chance.
Guardians-White Sox ALDS Game 5. Nate Ulrich's instant reaction
The Guardians fully embraced an all-hands-on-deck mentality to rally from a 2-0 series deficit and conquer the White Sox in the best-of-five ALDS. Gavin Williams proved to be emblematic of the attitude. Williams made his first career relief appearance to ensure the Guardians would hang on for a 9-5 victory in Game 4 on Thursday, Oct. 8, on Chicago's South Side. Then he started Game 5 two days later and produced a legendary outing highlighted by 12 strikeouts, which tied a single-game franchise playoff record. In 5⅔ innings of work, Williams allowed no runs, one hit and two walks. He hit a batter. He threw 94 pitches, 65 for strikes. A few hours before Game 5 began, Guardians closer Cade Smith said the all-hands-on-deck approach spread through Cleveland's entire clubhouse, not just its pitching staff. "You have every single guy in there bought in. ... They're ready to do whatever's asked so that we can win as a team," he said. Smith, who ended Game 5 with a save, was correct. Guardians players have had each other's backs, and it's paid off with another trip to the ALCS.
Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox ALDS Game 5 instant reactions