Gavin Williams, a guy who had never made a relief appearance in his pro career before Thursday night, saved the Guardians’ season with 18 pitches in Game 4 of the ALDS. Now, two days later, that same 27-year-old right-handed ace is getting the ball for the winner-take-all Game 5 against the White Sox. This is wild, right? A guy known for starting, coming in cold to shut down a playoff game, and then being tasked with the decisive game just 48 hours later. You can’t script this stuff!
Williams’ Unlikely Heroics Kept Cleveland Alive in Game 4
So, here’s how Thursday night went down: Guardians were up 9-5 in Game 4, trying to extend the series after dropping the first two games. Left-handed starter Parker Messick got knocked out after just 2 1/3 innings, forcing manager Stephen Vogt to go to his bullpen way early. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, closer Cade Smith, who had been solid with three scoreless innings over Game 3 and 8th of Game 4, looked gassed. He gave up a solo shot and a walk to start the ninth. The White Sox were smelling blood, trying for a last-ditch comeback, and that’s when Vogt calls in Williams. This is his first pro relief appearance EVER, remember?
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound hurler, who’s been an AL strikeout leader this season, gave up a single to the first batter he faced, and for a second, you probably thought, “Oh no.” But Williams regrouped, slammed the door shut on Chicago’s comeback dreams, and sealed that 9-5 decision. It took him only 18 pitches to record three outs and finish the game! Not only did that win keep the Guardians’ season alive after going down two games to zero, but it also extended the White Sox’s ridiculous 120-year drought without a postseason series-clinching win at home. You just love to see that kind of high-pressure dominance.
Winner Take All: Williams vs. Burke in a Pivotal Game 5
Fast forward two days, and guess who’s on the mound for Game 5? Yep, Gavin Williams. Even though Thursday was a scheduled throw day for him, that emergency relief appearance was definitely an “unorthodox between-starts bullpen session.” But the Guardians, after two straight road wins, are back in Cleveland with a chance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Championship Series, and Vogt is all-in on his ace. “It’s a Game 5, win or go home,” Vogt told MLB.com on Friday. “Gavin wants the ball. We want him to have the ball, and it’s his game.” That’s the kind of confidence you want from your manager going into a do-or-die situation.
This isn’t Williams’ first rodeo in this series, either. He started Game 2 on Monday, where he absolutely dazzled with 11 punchouts. Sure, it was a 4-3 loss, and he gave up three walks, four hits, and was accountable for two runs across five innings, but the strikeout numbers were there. For the White Sox, who’ve embraced some unconventional pitching plans themselves this postseason, they’re handing the ball to right-handed starter Sean Burke. Burke also saw action in Game 2, coming in during the third inning and going 5 1/3 innings, giving up just one hit, one walk, and one earned run, with six Ks. Chicago used seven pitchers in their Game 4 loss, including closer Grant Taylor getting roughed up for six runs in a fatal sixth inning, so a day of rest for both bullpens is definitely a good thing.
The regular season series between these AL Central foes was tight, with the White Sox narrowly edging out Cleveland 7-6, even though the Guardians ultimately wore the division crown. Now it’s down to the wire in the ALDS, with Williams and Burke taking the first crack at deciding who moves on. You know the energy in Cleveland is going to be absolutely electric for this one. This is what October baseball is all about, folks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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