Jo Adell’s three-RBI triple with two outs and the bases loaded lifted the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in Game 3 of their American League Division Series on Wednesday. The hit broke a 1-1 tie and helped the Guardians avoid elimination, pushing the series to at least a fourth game.
Adell’s clutch triple came in the late innings, turning the game decisively in Cleveland’s favor. It was his second postseason triple in as many games, making him the 16th player in postseason history to hit triples in back-to-back contests, according to MLB analyst Sarah Langs. The triple shifted the Guardians’ win probability from 52.8% to 78.8%, the largest swing of the night.
The Guardians acquired Adell from the Los Angeles Angels in a trade earlier this season, sending Double-A catcher Jacob Cozart to Los Angeles. In 48 games with Cleveland, Adell posted a 108 OPS+ and drove in 32 runs, showing he could provide the offensive boost the Guardians needed in their postseason push.
The White Sox, playing at home and aiming to close out the series with a sweep for the first time since 1906, struggled to capitalize on multiple opportunities. Although they scored a run in three separate innings, they left many chances unused. The home team’s inability to score more than one run in any frame left the door open for Cleveland’s late surge.
Despite the pressure of an electric crowd and the chance to clinch the series on their own turf, the White Sox failed to produce an inning with multiple runs. This shortfall ultimately cost them the game and forced a Game 4.
Cleveland’s win keeps their postseason hopes alive, denying Chicago the series sweep that had seemed within reach after two games. The Guardians will now prepare for Game 4, looking to extend the series further.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the postseason bracket, the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers all aimed to close out their Division Series on Wednesday as well. The Rays sought a sweep against the New York Yankees, while the Dodgers and Brewers faced Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres, respectively, trying to finish their series in Game 4.
For the Guardians, Adell’s performance has emerged as a defining element in their postseason so far. The triple on Wednesday was a timely blow that not only delivered runs but also swung momentum in Cleveland’s favor during a critical juncture of the game.
The White Sox’s inability to break through in key moments underlined the fine margins of postseason baseball, where a single hit can dramatically alter the path of a series.
With the series now extending beyond what the White Sox hoped, the focus shifts to Game 4, where Cleveland will look to build on their renewed energy and Chicago will try to regain control and avoid falling behind.
According to CBS.
