The White Sox are so far undefeated in the postseason, claiming a road victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the ALDS. These two divisional rivals have never faced one another in the postseason despite both clubs joining the MLB in 1901.
In the current format of the postseason, there's plenty of rest days for players, meaning practically every single game can be approached as if it was an all-or-nothing Game 7. Without the need to plan around saving pitchers, it's cause many managers to be quick on their bullpen decisions.
That's how Hagen Smith ended up only pitching 2.2 innings. A few walks had the bases loaded in the third inning with two outs, causing Venable to turn to the bullpen.
Eleven total pitchers were used in the contest, including the six used by the guardians. But for all of the pitching changes that occurred, the Guardians were unable to have a runner reach home.
Munetaka Murakami knocked his first MLB postseason home run to put the White Sox up two runs in the fourth, and Colson Montgomery combined with Kyle Teel to add in the third run in the seventh.
The regular season could not separate these teams
These two teams were remarkably evenly matched through the whole of the regular season, facing off 13 separate times. In that time, the White Sox accrued a 7-6 record, and the teams matched up for 57-56 runs respectively.
On top of that, the White Sox were a much better team at home this season than they were on the road, compiling a season record of 48-33 at home, and 36-45 on the road. For the White Sox to take that first game on the road to secure the momentum of the series in their favor was no small feat, and it shouldn't be ignored, either.
Game 2 goes Monday afternoon in Cleveland, and the Guardians are too talented to go quietly. But three October games have now shown the same White Sox: a staff that bends without breaking, a lineup that lands the one swing it needs, and a clubhouse playing like it expected to be here all along.
Two more wins and they are playing for a pennant.
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