White Sox Beat Astros 6-3 in AL Wild Card Game 1, One Win Away From ALDS

The Chicago White Sox are one win away from their first American League Division Series appearance since 2021 after beating the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Tuesday, according to USA Today.

Rookie left-hander Hagen Smith, making just the second start of his career, set the tone for Chicago’s bullpen game with three scoreless innings, twice retiring AL MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez. The White Sox struck early against Astros opener AJ Blubaugh, scoring three runs in the first two innings — including a two-run single by Sam Antonacci — before Colson Montgomery’s 432-foot solo homer made it 4-0 in the fourth.

Houston finally answered in the fifth when Nelson Velazquez launched a two-run homer off Sean Newcomb to cut the lead to 5-2, and the Astros loaded the bases in the eighth. But closer Grant Taylor struck out Yainer Diaz with the tying run at the plate to shut down the rally.

It was Houston’s eighth straight home postseason loss and Chicago’s first playoff win in five years. Since the best-of-three wild-card format began in 2022, the Game 1 winner has taken 15 of 16 series.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET in Houston, with Sean Burke starting for the White Sox and Hunter Brown trying to save the Astros’ season; the winner advances to face the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS starting Saturday.

Sources:

USA Today – How the White Sox beat the Astros to grab AL Wild Card Series lead

Yardbarker – Hagen Smith gave White Sox exactly what they needed as Game 1 opener

Tixel – White Sox triumph over Astros in AL Wild Card Series opener