Guardians blanked in ALDS opener, 3-0, by White Sox; held to three hits

Guardians261/26Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox in game 1 of the ALDS, October 3, 2026CLEVELAND, Ohio — Could it be happening again to the Guardians?The team they ran down like a pack of bloodhounds, comes back to beat them when it means the most?The White Sox struck early to blank the Guardians, 3-0, in Game 1 of the ALDS on a sun-splashed but windy Saturday at Progressive Field. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 on Monday at 5 p.m.The Guardians elbowed their way past the White Sox to move into first place in the AL Central on Sept. 16 before clinching the division on the second last game of the regular season.The White Sox, who owned the division for 95 days, were knocked into the wild card round as the sixth seed, while the Guardians won the second seed and a week of rest. But the White Sox didn’t disappear.They swept Houston in the best-of-three wild card series and have taken a one-game lead over the Guardians in the ALDS. White Sox bullpen slams the door as Chicago steals Game 1 from GuardiansDid a long layoff between innings cool Parker Messick before costly home run in ALDS debut?It’s already a crowded bullpen for Game 1: Guardians takeawaysIn 2025, the Guardians caught the Tigers from behind to win the Central on the last game of the season. In July of that season, the Tigers held a 15 1/2 game lead over Cleveland.In the postseason, the Guardians and Tigers met again in the wild-card round. The Tigers won the three-game series, 2-1.Rookie left-hander Parker Messick (0-1) started fast for Cleveland, striking out six in the first three innings as the sellout crowd cheered every punchout. The White Sox caught up to him in the fourth.Miguel Vargas singled to start the inning and Munetaka Murakami drove Messick’s first pitch 440-feet into the right field seats for a 2-0 lead.The Guardians created scoring chances early, but they came with two out.Chicago’s rookie starter Hagen Smith loaded the bases with two out in the third after retiring the first eight batters he faced. After Brayan Rocchio, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez drew three straight walks, Bryan Hudson relived and retired Chase DeLauter on a full-count liner to left.After Murakami’s homer gave Chicago a 2-0 lead in the fourth, the Guardians loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth once again with two out.Pinch-hitter Nathaniel Lowe walked and went to third when Travis Bazzana greeted reliever Anthony Kay with a double to right. Austin Hedges loaded the bases with a walk, but Kay retired Rocchio on a liner to right.The Guardians put together another two-out threat in the sixth when Lowe doubled to right. Bazzana, swinging at the first pitch, went down on a grounder to first.The White Sox made it 3-0 in the seventh when Colson Montgomery rolled a wrong-way double past third base to score Kyle Teel from first. Angel Martinez’s throw to the plate beat Teel, and Hedges applied the tag, but couldn’t hold onto the ball.The White Sox, who won the season series against Cleveland, 7-6, used four straight left-handers to neutralize Cleveland’s offense. Right-handed hitter Jo Adell, added at the deadline to help against lefties, struck out four straight times, the first two coming against lefties.The only right-hander Chicago used was closer Grant Taylor. He entered in the sixth inning and held the Guardians scoreless over the last four innings.Taylor saved 10 games in the regular season.The Guardians managed three hits in the game. The were shut out 16 times during the regular season.Messick came into the game with a 2-1 record in four starts against the White Sox in the regular season. He posted a 2.81 ERA in 25 2/3 innings.On Saturday, he allowed two runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.NextGuardians and White Sox have an off day on Sunday before playing Game 2 of the ALDS on Monday at 5 p.m. Gavin Williams is scheduled to start for the Guardians. The White Sox have not named a starter.Paul Hoynes, born in Cleveland, has been the beat writer for the Indians/Guardians since 1983. He attended Cathedral Latin High School in Cleveland and received a journalism degree from Marquette University. He...