The Cleveland Guardians eliminated the Chicago White Sox with a 2-0 victory in Saturday's winner-take-all Game 5 of the ALDS.
José Ramírez hit the game-winning homer in the fourth inning, while starter Gavin Williams tied a franchise postseason record with 12 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to record the win.
The Guardians are the 11th team in MLB history, and first since 2017, to win a best-of-five series after dropping the first two games. Only four clubs have accomplished the feat after losing the first two at home.
Cleveland is now set to play the Tampa Bay Rays in the best-of-seven ALCS. The winner of that series will take on either the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.
It's the Guardians' second ALCS appearance in three seasons. Cleveland hasn't reached the World Series since 2016, and hasn't won a championship since 1948 - the longest active drought in MLB.
The White Sox struck out 21 times in Game 5, which is an MLB record for a nine-inning game. The team also set a record for a best-of-five series with a staggering 75 strikeouts.
Right-hander Sean Burke allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in the defeat.
Chicago made it to the ALDS after losing 100-plus games during the regular season between 2023-25.
