Seven hits, three runs, no ALDS answers: Guardians pushed to the brink

CLEVELAND -- This is not how it was supposed to go for the Guardians this season. This was supposed to be different.

Yet here we are: The Guardians’ offense has been all but silenced in the postseason, and Cleveland’s season is now on the brink.

The Guardians lost, 4-3, to the White Sox in Game 2 of the AL Division Series at Progressive Field on Monday, despite a strong start by right-hander Gavin Williams, to fall into a 2-0 hole in the best-of-five series. Cleveland faces elimination in Game 3 on Wednesday at Rate Field.

History has not favored the path ahead for teams in the Guardians’ predicament. In all best-of-five postseason series, teams with a 2-0 lead have gone on to win the series 83 of 93 times (89%). Those that have won the first two games on the road in Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format have gone on to win the series 17 of 19 times (also 89%).

The last team that rallied from a 2-0 hole is one those in Northeast Ohio remember well. The Yankees dropped the first two games of the 2017 ALDS in Cleveland. The last team to rally after dropping the first two games at home was the Blue Jays, in the 2015 ALDS against the Rangers.

Yes, it’s happened. But ask yourself: Has the Guardians’ offense inspired any confidence they can make a comeback to save their season?

If you’re shaking your head, the past two games are probably why. The Guardians have scored three runs on seven hits and eight walks in 18 innings this series. They are 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and have left 12 men on base. Chicago’s unorthodox pitching plan -- using an opener or a bulk reliever before their bulk pitcher/starter -- has had Cleveland in a blender.

Consider how Monday played out. The Guardians loaded the bases with one out in the first inning on a Steven Kwan leadoff single, a José Ramírez walk and an intentional walk to Jo Adell. They scored two runs: Nathaniel Lowe hit a chopper back to the mound, pitcher Sean Newcomb fired an awful throw past first baseman Munetaka Murakami.

That was it for the Guardians until Adell hit an RBI triple off Grant Taylor in the eighth inning, which deflected high off the 19-foot-high wall in left field. It was a welcome sign for a Cleveland offense that has been much better with Adell in the lineup.

The Guardians finished 24th in MLB in runs per game (4.19) this season, but ranked eighth in runs scored (232) after acquiring Adell and Lowe on Aug. 3.

If Cleveland can’t find the latter form fast, it will be heading home for the winter.