2 ways White Sox pitchers etched names in MLB history books in Game 1 ALDS win

The Chicago White Sox are off to a dream start in the 2026 MLB playoffs. After sweeping the Houston Astros in the ALWCS they took Game 1 of the ALDS with a 3-0 win against the Cleveland Guardians.

In this contest, Munetaka Murakami provided the power with a two run home run in the fourth inning and Colson Montgomery an RBI double in the seventh. But, it was a pair of White Sox pitchers, that they have been very reliant on so far in the post season to accumulate this winning streak, who etched their names into MLB history books.

Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor etched their names into MLB history books during the Chicago White Sox Game 1 ALDS victory

Rookie Hagen Smith got the ball to open the ALDS for Chicago after also starting Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Astros. In that outing, he tossed three innings and allowed just two baserunners.

He was just as effective against the Guardians, working 2.2 innings without allowing a hit. Smith did issue three walks, but he countered them with four strikeouts and, most importantly, kept Cleveland off the scoreboard.

Where the history comes in is the fact that he became the first rookie pitcher to start multiple Game 1’s in a single postseason.

Hagen Smith in playoff start today:

2.2 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 3 BB | 4 SO

The lefty made MLB History becoming the first rookie pitcher to start multiple Game 1’s in a single postseason run. https://t.co/yGXauaIRsi

— Milb Central (@milb_central) October 3, 2026

Later in the game, history repeated itself as Grant Taylor again followed Smith out of the bullpen. In his last appearance against the Astros, Taylor threw 54 pitches while covering the final 2.2 innings, but he wasn’t credited with a save, likely because he entered in the bottom of the seventh with Chicago already holding a four-run lead.

This time, though, Taylor made history. He recorded a four-inning save, allowing just two hits while striking out six batters to slam the door on Cleveland. Taylor became the first player since Lance McCullers in 2017 to record a four-inning save in the postseason and just the sixth player to accomplish the feat since 1969.

4+ inning saves in postseason since saves official (1969):

Grant Taylor (CHW), 2026 ALDS G1
Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU), 2017 ALCS G7
Madison Bumgarner (SF), 2014 WS G7
Sammy Stewart (BAL), 1983 ALCS G3
Pedro Borbon (CIN), 1976 NLCS G2
Vida Blue (OAK), 1972 ALCS G5

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 3, 2026

The post 2 ways White Sox pitchers etched names in MLB history books in Game 1 ALDS win appeared first on ChiCitySports.