CLEVELAND (Interstat) — Sean Burke allowed one hit over 5 1/3 innings and the Chicago White Sox scored three times in the sixth inning to beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday at Progressive Field, taking a 1-0 lead in the playoff series. Chicago improved to 88-78, while Cleveland fell to 85-79. The game took 3 hours, 6 minutes and was played before 32,050. It was Game 2 of the playoff series.

Chicago won with six hits, while Cleveland finished with four. Burke, now 12-7, walked one and struck out six. Erik Sabrowski took the loss and dropped to 5-3. Grant Taylor closed the final 1 1/3 innings for his 12th save. Sean Newcomb pitched two scoreless innings for Chicago, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three. Anthony Kay worked one-third of an inning and gave up one hit and one walk.

The Guardians opened the scoring in the first. Steven Kwan singled on a ground ball to right fielder Braden Montgomery. José Ramírez walked, and Chase DeLauter grounded out to second baseman Chase Meidroth, moving Kwan to third and Ramírez to second. Jo Adell was intentionally walked to load the bases. Nathaniel Lowe then reached on a throwing error by pitcher Sean Newcomb, allowing Kwan and Ramírez to score and sending Adell to third. Angel Martínez and Travis Bazzana struck out swinging to end the inning.

Chicago cut the deficit in the fourth. Kyle Teel singled on a line drive to center fielder Steven Kwan. Miguel Vargas walked, and Munetaka Murakami lined a sharp single to right fielder Chase DeLauter that scored Teel. Andrew Benintendi struck out swinging, Tristan Peters flew out to left fielder Angel Martínez, and Braden Montgomery struck out swinging. Gavin Williams worked five innings for Cleveland, allowing four hits and two earned runs with three walks and 11 strikeouts.

The White Sox took control in the sixth. Miguel Vargas singled on a sharp line drive to left field. Munetaka Murakami grounded out to second baseman Travis Bazzana, moving Vargas to second. Randal Grichuk walked, and Tommy Pham flew out to left fielder Angel Martínez for the second out. Braden Montgomery then doubled on a sharp line drive to right fielder Chase DeLauter, scoring Vargas and Grichuk. Chase Meidroth followed with a single on a line drive to right field, bringing home Montgomery and giving Chicago a 4-2 lead. Colson Montgomery was called out on strikes to end the inning.

Cleveland chipped away in the eighth. Steven Kwan lined out to left fielder Sam Antonacci. José Ramírez struck out swinging. Chase DeLauter singled on a line drive to left fielder Sam Antonacci. Jo Adell tripled on a sharp fly ball to left field, scoring DeLauter. Nathaniel Lowe flew out to left fielder Sam Antonacci to end the threat. Adell finished 1 for 3 with an RBI, while Braden Montgomery was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

Grant Taylor protected the one-run lead in the ninth. Angel Martínez grounded out to first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Travis Bazzana flew out to center fielder Brenton Doyle. Patrick Bailey flew out sharply to center fielder Brenton Doyle, ending the game.

Cleveland’s bullpen kept the game close. Shawn Armstrong tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Cade Smith worked a scoreless inning. Hunter Gaddis allowed one hit in a scoreless inning with one strikeout. Chicago’s Sean Newcomb delivered two scoreless innings, and Grant Taylor allowed one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Anthony Kay allowed one hit and one walk in one-third of an inning.

The Guardians had chances early. In the second, Patrick Bailey was called out on strikes, Brayan Rocchio flew out to center fielder Tristan Peters, and Kwan grounded out to shortstop Colson Montgomery. In the third, Ramírez grounded out sharply to first baseman Murakami, DeLauter singled to center, and Adell and Lowe struck out. In the fourth, Angel Martínez lined out to right fielder Braden Montgomery, Bazzana walked, and Bailey and Rocchio flew out. In the fifth, Burke retired Kwan, Ramírez and DeLauter in order. In the sixth, he struck out Adell and Martínez around a Lowe groundout. In the seventh, Bazzana, Bailey and Rocchio all flew out.

Chicago’s offense was quiet outside the fourth and sixth. In the first, Sam Antonacci grounded out, Teel struck out swinging, Vargas walked, and Murakami was called out on strikes. In the second, Benintendi, Peters and Braden Montgomery all struck out swinging. In the third, Meidroth struck out, Colson Montgomery walked and Antonacci grounded into a double play. In the fifth, Meidroth singled, but Colson Montgomery, Antonacci and Teel struck out. In the seventh, Antonacci lined out, Teel lined out and Vargas flew out. In the eighth, Murakami grounded out, Grichuk struck out and Brenton Doyle grounded out. In the ninth, Braden Montgomery grounded out, Meidroth grounded out softly and Colson Montgomery popped out to third baseman Ramírez in foul territory.

Williams struck out 11 over five innings, including three in the second and three in the fifth. The White Sox put together their best rally in the sixth, when Braden Montgomery’s two-run double and Meidroth’s RBI single turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead. Burke and the bullpen made it stand.

Cleveland’s final push came in the eighth, when Adell’s triple made it a one-run game. Taylor then retired the side in the ninth to secure the win. The Guardians finished with four hits, while the White Sox had six. Chicago’s season record is now 88-78. Cleveland’s season record is 85-79.

The White Sox lead the series 1-0 after Game 2.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Chicago White Sox 10, Cleveland Guardians 8. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Cleveland with a 53.4 percent probability to win. Cleveland had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 7 went under the over/under line of 6.5.