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White Sox @ Guardians (Sept. 12–14): A punch, a gut check, and a statement — Sox take the series 2–1

Coming in, this had all the makings of a grind-it-out weekend in Cleveland: two clubs buried in the standings, but still playing every inning like it matters. And by Sunday afternoon, the Sox walked out of Progressive Field with something they badly needed — a series win — pushing the record to 67–83 while the Guardians sit at 71–79.

The best part? This series had a little of everything: a bullpen gut-punch on Friday, a one-swing masterpiece on Saturday, and then Sunday’s “okay, we’re not done yet” offensive burst to seal it.

Game 1 (Fri 9/12): Guardians 4, White Sox 0 — one bad inning flips a tight game

For six innings, this game felt like it was being played on a razor blade.

Mike Vasil was legit early — pounding the zone, missing bats, and keeping Cleveland quiet. Meanwhile, the Sox lineup had some traffic (a couple hits from Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas, plus a Bryan Ramos knock), but nothing that cashed in.

Then the seventh happened.

Cleveland finally cracked the door open and kicked it in with a three-run homer from Angel Genao, turning a scoreless duel into a sudden 3–0 hole. As if that wasn’t enough, Kyle Manzardo tacked on a late solo shot in the 8th, and that was that — a game that lived in “one bounce changes everything” territory… changed the wrong way.

One notable wrinkle: Shane Bieber left injured while pitching, which cast a weird shadow over what was otherwise a clean Cleveland win.

Game 2 (Sat 9/13): White Sox 1, Guardians 0 — Tirso Ornelas sets the tone, the staff finishes the job

Saturday was the exact response you want after a frustrating shutout: first inning, first statement.

Tirso Ornelas jumped Tanner Bibee early and launched a solo homer in the top of the 1st — and from that moment on, the game turned into a full-on pitching flex by Chicago.

Davis Martin was nails: attacking, striking guys out, and refusing to let Cleveland’s hits turn into anything real. The Guardians collected plenty of singles, but the Sox pitchers kept slamming the door in every leverage spot.

And then the bullpen turned it into a clean handoff:

tight innings,

no panic,

and a Grant Taylor save to finish a crisp, no-drama (well… pitcher-drama, but the good kind) 1–0 win.

That’s the kind of game that can quietly change the mood of a clubhouse.

Game 3 (Sun 9/14): White Sox 5, Guardians 2 — back-to-back bombs and constant pressure win the rubber match

If Saturday was “survive and advance,” Sunday was “take it from them.”

The Sox wasted no time turning the series into their kind of game. In the 2nd inning, Eguy Rosario and Eliezer Alfonzo went back-to-back to put Chicago out front and put Cleveland on tilt. From there, it was pressure, pressure, pressure — the kind that forces mistakes and drains a pitching staff.

And then Lenyn Sosa joined the party with a big fly of his own, giving the Sox real breathing room.

Offensively, this was one of the better “team wins” box scores you’ll see:

Ornelas kept rolling with three hits

Sosa filled up the stat line and brought energy at the top

Rosario/Alfonzo delivered the knockout swings

On the mound, Shane Smith did exactly what you want in a rubber match: keep you in control. Cleveland got a solo shot from José Ramírez, but it never felt like the Sox were wobbling. The bullpen handled the finish, and the Sox closed the weekend with a confident 5–2 win.

Series takeaway

This weekend could’ve easily spiraled after Friday’s late collapse — instead, the Sox punched back immediately and won the final two in totally different styles.

That matters. Not because it fixes the season, but because it shows a team still capable of:

responding to adversity,

winning tight games,

and finishing a series with authority.