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American League Division Series: Chicago White Sox v Cleveland Guardians - Game One
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Murakami Leads White Sox Past Guardians, Box Score Stats, Highlights, Updated MLB Playoff Bracket

Joe Tansey
Oct 3, 2026

The Chicago White Sox refuse to lose in the postseason.

The No. 6 seed in the American League bracket opened its ALDS series with the Cleveland Guardians with a 3-0 win powered by a two-run homer by Munetaka Murakami. The White Sox are now 3-0 this postseason. All of the wins have come on the road.

The White Sox pitching staff conceded just three hits in the shutout effort to take the 1-0 series advantage over their AL Central rival.

Game Box Score

1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th
CWS000200100
CLE000000000

Updated MLB Playoff Bracket

Murakami's home run ended up being the difference for the White Sox.

The Japanese slugger rocked the fourth inning home 440 feet.

Murakami was the only player on either roster to record multiple hits in Game 1. He went 2-for-4 with a single and a home run.

Cleveland had two opportunities to plate a handful of runs out of bases-loaded situations in the third and fourth innings.

Bryan Hudson forced Chase DeLauter into a flyout to end the rally in the third. Anthony Kay got Bryan Rocchio out to finish off the Cleveland threat in the fourth.

Cleveland didn't produce much offense after the fourth. Grant Taylor played a massive role in containing the Guardians offense.

Taylor struck out six batters and gave up just two hits across his four innings of work. His work earned him a rare postseason four-out save.

Cleveland's bullpen conceded just one run over 4.2 innings of work. Parker Messick struck out six batters in his 4.1-inning start.

The White Sox pushed across an insurance run in the seventh by way of a Colson Montgomery RBI double.

The White Sox and Guardians have a day off before Monday's Game 2. Gavin Williams is set to start for Cleveland, while Chicago's starter has yet to be determined.