The Chicago White Sox blanked the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in American League Division Series Game 1 on Saturday at Progressive Field. Munetaka Murakami crushed a 440-foot two-run homer in the fourth for his first postseason home run, and Colson Montgomery added an RBI double in the seventh.

Chicago again used a bullpen game. Hagen Smith retired the first eight hitters before walking the bases loaded in the third; Bryan Hudson escaped. Cleveland loaded the bases again in the fourth and still scored nothing. Grant Taylor then worked four innings for the save — the first four-inning postseason save since Lance McCullers Jr. in the 2017 ALCS — with six strikeouts and two hits allowed.

Parker Messick, Cleveland's Game 1 starter, allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said his club fought and got on base but could not cash early innings against a parade of arms. Chicago has won nine of its last 11 games dating to the regular season after sweeping Houston in the Wild Card round.

Backstory: Cleveland won a third straight AL Central title by one game over the White Sox, then used a bye while Chicago mixed short starts and relievers. Taylor's long save underscored how far Venable is willing to stretch nontraditional outs in October.

Where to watch: ALDS Game 2 is Monday at 5 p.m. ET on TBS at Progressive Field. Gavin Williams is lined up for Cleveland; Sean Burke is expected to handle bulk innings for Chicago.

What we know:
Final is White Sox 3, Guardians 0. Chicago leads the series 1-0. Murakami homered; Taylor earned a four-inning save.

What we don't:
Chicago's exact Game 2 opener beyond Burke as the expected bulk arm, and whether Cleveland can break through against another multi-pitcher plan.

The shutout is locked by AP, NBC Sports, and Sportsnet. Monday's 5 p.m. ET TBS window is Cleveland's first chance to even the series at home.