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Vogt explains Williams decision; Venable credits Guardians after Game 4

Stephen Vogt explained his late call to Gavin Williams, and Will Venable credited Cleveland’s hitting approach after the Guardians’ 9–5 ALDS Game 4 win on October 8.

Will Venable in a black White Sox cap and hoodie speaks into a microphone in front of an ALDS backdrop.
Will Venable speaks after Chicago’s 9–5 ALDS Game 4 loss to Cleveland on October 8, 2026. · Credit: MLB.com / official White Sox postgame video

“It was time to go get Gavin. We wanted to give him a hitter,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said after the Guardians’ 9–5 ALDS Game 4 win over the White Sox on October 8 at Rate Field.

Vogt was explaining the late change to Gavin Williams after Colson Montgomery’s eighth-inning at-bat had raised Cade Smith’s pitch count. Williams entered the ninth after Miguel Vargas’ homer and Munetaka Murakami’s walk and recorded the final three outs.

Vogt said of Parker Messick that “the command was not sharp tonight.” Messick walked four batters in 2⅓ innings.

Stephen Vogt’s edited postgame clip, 1:55. Source: MLB / Cleveland Guardians.

Venable credits Cleveland’s approach

“They’ve done a really nice job of making good swing decisions and making us pay for those walks,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.

Asked about Grant Taylor in the sixth inning, Venable credited Cleveland’s contact and swing selection. The Guardians scored six runs in that inning, turning a 4–3 deficit into a 9–4 lead.

In those October 8 comments, Venable also confirmed that Sean Burke would pitch in Game 5.

Will Venable’s edited postgame clip, 2:26. Source: MLB / Chicago White Sox.

The final Game 4 record has the score, scoring sequence and statistics.

Source scope: MLB’s edited postgame clips from October 8 and their closed captions. These clips are not full press conferences.

Sources and notes

  1. MLB: Stephen Vogt’s edited October 8 ALDS Game 4 postgame comments, 1:55. https://www.mlb.com/video/steven-vogt-discusses-key-decisions-in-game-4-win
  2. MLB: Will Venable’s edited October 8 ALDS Game 4 postgame comments, 2:26. https://www.mlb.com/video/will-venable-breaks-down-game-4-loss
  3. MLB Gameday: Cleveland at Chicago, ALDS Game 4, October 8, 2026. https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849832