Gavin Williams again etches his name in Guardians October lore with 12 strikeouts in ALDS Game 5 vs. White Sox

Key Points:

• Gavin Williams delivered a dominant pitching performance in Game 5 of the ALDS, striking out 12 batters over 5⅔ innings and leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox, advancing Cleveland to the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Williams had previously pitched in relief during Game 4, marking his first relief appearance in his professional career, and despite concerns about his workload, he improved with each inning in Game 5.
• The Guardians set a new MLB postseason record with 21 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, surpassing the previous record of 19, with the White Sox striking out 75 times in the series, a new division series record.
• José Ramírez contributed a crucial two-run homer in the fourth inning of Game 5, providing the only runs scored and breaking through against White Sox starter Sean Burke.
• The Guardians' victory marked the first time since 2017 that a team rallied from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series, highlighting Cleveland's resilience and pitching depth as they prepare to face the Rays in the ALCS.