Sean Newcomb gave the White Sox two clean innings Wednesday, but Cleveland turned the third into a four-run swing and carried that early damage to a 9-3 win in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Rate Field.
The result
Chicago had arrived home with a chance to secure its first postseason series victory on its own field in 120 years. Instead, an aggressive reliever-based plan that had held together through the first four games of the club’s October run finally came apart under the Guardians’ pressure.
The White Sox scratched out a first-inning run and the building had its expected edge. Newcomb, making the opening start, protected that lead through two scoreless frames. But Cleveland quickly changed the shape of the game in the third.
Bryan Hudson opened the inning by issuing a five-pitch walk to Travis Bazzana. Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan followed with consecutive singles, tying the score at 1-1. Chicago brought in Hagen Smith, who had been effective in brief postseason assignments against Houston in the Wild Card Series and in Game 1 at Cleveland.
Smith walked José Ramírez to fill the bases. After he got two outs, Jo Adell drove a 1-2 fastball that was up in the zone into a three-run triple, sending the Guardians in front 4-1.
“The plan was Newcomb to Hudson, then Hagen coming in as a fireman,” manager Will Venable said. “The walks and the contact made it difficult. Then Adell gets two strikes and does a good job battling a fastball and keeping it fair.”
The White Sox issued 10 walks overall, and five of those runners scored. Venable said that was the difference in a game against a Cleveland lineup built to take advantage of free baserunners.
“We have to execute better,” Venable said. “We’ve talked about it throughout the series. We know they can make you pay for walks. They didn’t in the first couple games, but they did today.”
Noah Schultz provided a needed bridge after the early trouble. The 23-year-old left-hander worked three innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out one. His only run came in the fifth, when Ramírez doubled, stole third and scored on Chase DeLauter’s RBI groundout.
“It felt good,” Schultz said. “I’d like to have that fifth inning back, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. At the end of the day, I felt good.”
With no off-day before Game 4, Venable used arms that had not carried much of the postseason workload once the game tilted away. Tyler Davis made his playoff debut with a scoreless seventh. David Sandlin surrendered two runs in the eighth, and Davis Martin allowed two more in the ninth.
Martin had not appeared in the postseason before Wednesday. Sandlin’s previous October outing had been 1 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Sept. 29.
The rotation next
The White Sox had not named a Game 4 starter following the loss, leaving another mix-and-match pitching effort likely. The good news for Chicago is that the late-game bullpen should be fully rested after Wednesday’s allocation of innings.
Closer Grant Taylor has not pitched since Monday and can again be deployed for more than one inning. He recorded a 12-out save in Game 1 and followed it with a four-out save in Game 2, leaving open the possibility of another extended assignment if the season demands it.
Jordan Hicks is also available after throwing four scoreless innings this postseason. Veteran right-hander Erick Fedde could be asked to cover multiple innings. Smith threw 21 pitches and is expected to be an option, while Newcomb threw 22 pitches in his start and could also be available. Anthony Kay, who opened Game 2 but did not finish the first inning Monday, remains in the bullpen picture.
“We’ll evaluate the capacity for some of these guys,” Venable said. “Schultz was part of the plan today and did a nice job covering ground in the middle. It gives us a chance to gather ourselves and reassess where we are.”
Cleveland will counter with rookie Parker Messick in Game 4. Chicago and Cleveland are scheduled to play Thursday at 5 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. CT, with the start moving to 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT if Tampa Bay eliminates the Yankees.
