MLBSep 30
White Sox beat Astros to open Wild Card Series with breakthrough win
Colson Montgomery homered and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs as Chicago won 6-3 in Houston for its first postseason victory since 2021.
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Chicago turns turnaround into playoff success
The White Sox carried their remarkable resurgence into the postseason Tuesday, beating the Astros 6-3 in Houston to take Game 1 of their American League Wild Card Series. Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021, Chicago earned its first postseason win since beating Houston in the AL Division Series that year. The victory followed a historic recovery: the White Sox became the only major league team to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons. Their stretch of three straight seasons with 100 losses included 121 defeats in 2024.
Early offense gives White Sox control
Chicago capitalized on Houston's shaky opening innings. Two walks and a Christian Walker error helped set up Munetaka Murakami's sacrifice fly in the first. Sam Antonacci followed with a two-run single in the second to put the White Sox ahead 3-0. Colson Montgomery, moved to ninth in the batting order by manager Will Venable, opened the fourth with a 432-foot home run to center. Chase Meidroth added a bases-loaded RBI single in the fifth. Both clubs leaned on their bullpens, using a combined 13 pitchers. Chicago rookie opener Hagen Smith supplied three scoreless innings, allowing two hits.
Houston's rally falls short
Nelson Velazquez gave the Astros a lift with a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the fifth. Chicago added a run on Bennett Sousa's wild pitch in the seventh before Houston scored on Miguel Vargas' error in the eighth. The AL West champions entered the series after an 81-81 regular season. Houston will turn to Hunter Brown for Game 2. Brown finished with a 6-4 record and a 3.19 ERA. Chicago has not announced its starter.
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