The Chicago White Sox blanked the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday, powered by Munetaka Murakami's first postseason home run of his career.
Murakami's two-run homer was the decisive blow as Chicago opened the best-of-five series on the front foot. The White Sox arrived in the Division Series with momentum, having earlier swept the Houston Astros in the wild-card round — the first postseason series victory by any team this year, per ESPN's postseason guide.
Division Series openers elsewhere
In the other three Game 1s of the Division Series, the Tampa Bay Rays edged the New York Yankees 1-0, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3, and the Milwaukee Brewers held off the San Diego Padres 3-2.
What comes next
ALDS Game 2s are scheduled for Monday, with the NLDS Game 2s set for Sunday evening. The White Sox, the surprise of the postseason so far, will look to protect their home-field edge against a Guardians side that must now win on the road to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole.
Sources:
MLB playoff roundup: Murakami powers White Sox, Rasmussen shuts down Yankees — Fox Sports
Murakami's two-run homer was the decisive blow as Chicago opened the best-of-five series on the front foot. The White Sox arrived in the Division Series with momentum, having earlier swept the Houston Astros in the wild-card round — the first postseason series victory by any team this year, per ESPN's postseason guide.
Division Series openers elsewhere
In the other three Game 1s of the Division Series, the Tampa Bay Rays edged the New York Yankees 1-0, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3, and the Milwaukee Brewers held off the San Diego Padres 3-2.
What comes next
ALDS Game 2s are scheduled for Monday, with the NLDS Game 2s set for Sunday evening. The White Sox, the surprise of the postseason so far, will look to protect their home-field edge against a Guardians side that must now win on the road to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole.
Sources:
MLB playoff roundup: Murakami powers White Sox, Rasmussen shuts down Yankees — Fox Sports
