Guardians 8, White Sox 2: Angel Martínez's Grand Slam Ends a Skid

August 7, 2026 - Chicago - Three losses to the Mets had the Guardians looking lost. One grand slam later, the AL Central race looked tight again.

Angel Martínez drove in a career-high six runs, including a fifth-inning grand slam, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox 8-2 to end a three-game skid.

Sandlin inherits a mess, then gets crushed

Noah Schultz had to leave in the first by rule after mound visits from pitching coach Zach Bove and manager Will Venable. Martínez tagged him for a two-run single to open the scoring. David Sandlin (2-2) was pressed into a long relief stint and lasted 5 1/3 innings with six runs allowed.

The fifth is the inning Chicago will replay. Chase DeLauter singled, José Ramírez walked, and Jo Adell was hit by a pitch. Martínez drove the first pitch to center for his third career slam. Austin Hedges added an RBI single in the same frame. A two-run game became a six-run hole in a hurry.

Steven Kwan led off the sixth with a solo homer. That was enough. Cleveland had the lead, the runs, and the answer after a rough week.

Messick finds his first win since July 10

Parker Messick (9-6) allowed four hits and both White Sox home runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking one. Munetaka Murakami and Braden Montgomery went deep for Chicago, and that was most of the offense. Messick's first win since July 10 arrived on a night the Guardians needed a stopper more than a perfect line.

Chicago has lost a season-worst four straight and five of six. The division lead is down to two games over both Minnesota and Cleveland. A club that spent the summer looking stable is suddenly watching the Central bunch up behind it.

The loudest boos of the night, per the wire, were for a canceled postgame Ja Rule show. On the field, the story was simpler: Cleveland hit, Chicago's starter left early, and the bullpen could not paper over it.

AthX Engine angle

Cleveland finished with 17 AthX Engine team fantasy points, second only to Boston's 28. Messick graded out at 20 pitching FP. Martínez and Kwan both landed near the top of the hitting board. Grand slams do what they always do on AthX Engine: they move team scores and individual boards in the same swing.

Track Angel Martínez, Steven Kwan, and the Guardians boards on the marketplace. Information only; not financial advice.

What it means

Cleveland is back within two of first after a week that looked like a free fall. Chicago still leads the Central, but four straight losses against a tightening pack is the wrong way to enter a weekend series at home. One grand slam does not fix either roster. It does reset the standings math for everybody watching.

*Sources: MLB.com gameday final, ESPN recap, AthX Engine daily scoring for August 7, 2026. Information only; not financial advice.*