The Chicago White Sox are one win away from the American League Division Series after a 6-3 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday at Daikin Park in Houston.
Colson Montgomery and Sam Antonacci powered the offence for Chicago. Montgomery hit a solo home run and Antonacci drove in two runs, while a fast start — a 3-0 lead after two innings — carried the White Sox to their first playoff win since October 10, 2021, also against Houston.
A turnaround two years in the making
The White Sox entered the postseason for the first time since 2021 after a remarkable season that made them the only team in major league history to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons. Chicago lost 100 games in three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024 — the most losses in the majors since 1899.
"We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great," manager Will Venable said. "A bunch of young guys that haven't been in this situation before, they didn't back down at all."
Bullpen game decided early
Both teams treated the opener as a bullpen game, combining to use 13 pitchers. Chicago rookie left-hander Hagen Smith started and allowed two hits across three scoreless innings.
Montgomery, batting ninth, opened the fourth with a 432-foot home run to straightaway center to make it 4-0 — his 31st of the season. A bases-loaded single by Chase Meidroth pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth before pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez answered with a two-run homer. A wild pitch by Bennett Sousa restored a three-run cushion in the seventh, and Houston could only trim it to 6-3 in the eighth.
The Astros, who won the AL West at 81-81 to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record, lost their eighth straight home playoff game. They played in front of a surprisingly thin crowd of 34,011 in a park that holds 40,963, and the home fans booed as the early deficit grew.
What's next
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston. The Astros will turn to ace Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA) to force a deciding game, while Chicago counters with right-hander Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA).
Sources: NBC Sports (AP) — White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros 6-3 in Game 1
Colson Montgomery and Sam Antonacci powered the offence for Chicago. Montgomery hit a solo home run and Antonacci drove in two runs, while a fast start — a 3-0 lead after two innings — carried the White Sox to their first playoff win since October 10, 2021, also against Houston.
A turnaround two years in the making
The White Sox entered the postseason for the first time since 2021 after a remarkable season that made them the only team in major league history to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons. Chicago lost 100 games in three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024 — the most losses in the majors since 1899.
"We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great," manager Will Venable said. "A bunch of young guys that haven't been in this situation before, they didn't back down at all."
Bullpen game decided early
Both teams treated the opener as a bullpen game, combining to use 13 pitchers. Chicago rookie left-hander Hagen Smith started and allowed two hits across three scoreless innings.
Montgomery, batting ninth, opened the fourth with a 432-foot home run to straightaway center to make it 4-0 — his 31st of the season. A bases-loaded single by Chase Meidroth pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth before pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez answered with a two-run homer. A wild pitch by Bennett Sousa restored a three-run cushion in the seventh, and Houston could only trim it to 6-3 in the eighth.
The Astros, who won the AL West at 81-81 to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record, lost their eighth straight home playoff game. They played in front of a surprisingly thin crowd of 34,011 in a park that holds 40,963, and the home fans booed as the early deficit grew.
What's next
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston. The Astros will turn to ace Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA) to force a deciding game, while Chicago counters with right-hander Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA).
Sources: NBC Sports (AP) — White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros 6-3 in Game 1
