Guardians forces Game 5 with 9-5 win over White Sox

Facing elimination for the second consecutive day, José Ramírez and the Cleveland Guardians responded once again.

Ramírez homered and drove in three runs, and Cleveland beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday night to send their AL Division Series to a winner-take-all Game 5.

Patrick Bailey also went deep and Game 2 starter Gavin Williams came out of the bullpen to get the last three outs as the Guardians won in Chicago for the second straight day after beginning their postseason with two losses at home.

Cleveland is looking to become the first club to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series since the 2017 New York Yankees accomplished the feat against, well, Cleveland. Teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have gone on to win 83 of 93 times.

Game 5 is back in Cleveland on Saturday night, and the winner will open the American League Championship Series at Tampa Bay next Monday. The Rays swept the Yankees in three games, extending to 17 seasons since New York won a World Series.

The National League championship is set as the Dodgers face the Brewers in games Sunday and Monday in Milwaukee. 

(AP Photo Melissa Tamez)