The Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 at Progressive Field on Monday, September 14, 2026, in a division matchup that got away from Cleveland in the middle innings. David Fry provided the Guardians' only real offensive punch with a home run and two RBI, but the bullpen couldn't hold the game together after starter Gavin Williams exited, and the White Sox pulled away to hand Cleveland a four-run defeat.

Gavin Williams Pitches Well Enough, But Bullpen Collapses

Williams gave Cleveland a chance. The right-hander went five innings, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run on four hits, walking three. On a night when the offense managed just three runs, that was a workable performance — the kind of start that can keep a team in a game. The problem was what came after.

Tim Herrin took over in the sixth and was immediately roughed up, surrendering three earned runs on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning. That stretch effectively broke the game open. Daniel Espino followed and allowed one more earned run in a third of an inning. By the time Slade Cecconi came on to stabilize things — and he did, throwing two and a third innings with four strikeouts and no hits allowed — the damage was already done. Connor Brogdon handled the final two-thirds of an inning cleanly. The bullpen as a whole allowed five earned runs after Williams departed, turning a manageable deficit into a lopsided final score.

Sean Burke Dominates for Chicago

The story on the Chicago side was Sean Burke, who picked up the win with a strong outing. Burke worked five innings, striking out four and allowing zero earned runs on four hits with two walks. He came in after Sean Newcomb opened with a scoreless first inning, and Burke's five-inning shutdown was enough to put the White Sox in full control. Hagen Smith followed with two more scoreless innings — striking out three — and Trevor Richards closed it out in the ninth. Chicago's pitching staff did not allow an earned run after the first inning, holding Cleveland's lineup in check from the second inning on.

Fry Homers, But Cleveland Can't Generate Enough Offense

David Fry was the one bright spot in the Cleveland lineup. He went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI — accounting for the majority of the Guardians' production on the night. Beyond Fry, Cleveland's bats were largely silent against a White Sox pitching staff that executed well throughout.

For Chicago, Miguel Vargas went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, providing a major boost to the White Sox offense. Andrew Benintendi also contributed, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and keeping the pressure on Cleveland's pitching all night. Those two performances gave Chicago the offensive foundation it needed to support Burke and the bullpen.

Key Performances

  • David Fry (CLE): 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Gavin Williams (CLE): 5.0 IP, 7 K, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB
  • Tim Herrin (CLE): 0.2 IP, 1 K, 3 ER, 3 H
  • Slade Cecconi (CLE): 2.1 IP, 4 K, 1 ER, 0 H
  • Sean Burke (CHW): 5.0 IP, 4 K, 0 ER, 4 H — winning pitcher
  • Miguel Vargas (CHW): 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Andrew Benintendi (CHW): 3-for-5, 1 RBI

Turning Point

The game turned in the sixth inning when Herrin came on in relief of Williams and allowed three earned runs on three hits while recording just two outs. Williams had kept Cleveland within striking distance through five innings, but the bullpen couldn't protect the lead, and Chicago extended its advantage to a point Cleveland's offense — held scoreless after the early innings — could not overcome.

What's Next

The Guardians remain at Progressive Field to continue this series against Chicago. Cleveland will need a stronger bullpen performance and more consistent run production if it wants to bounce back in the next game. The division matchup with the White Sox continues, and the loss on Monday puts added importance on the rest of this series.