White Sox Sweep Astros 7-3 to Win First Playoff Series in 21 Years

The Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 7-3 on Wednesday night at Daikin Park to complete a two-game sweep of their American League wild-card series, clinching the franchise’s first postseason series victory in 21 years, according to Reuters.

The sweep echoes history: the White Sox’s last playoff series win also came against the Astros in Houston — in the 2005 World Series, per USA Today.

Chicago struck first and never let go. The White Sox piled up four runs in the top of the first inning, chasing Houston ace Hunter Brown before he could finish the frame, according to Reuters. Kyle Teel, Andrew Benintendi and Tristan Peters each drove in a run, with Astros defensive errors adding to the damage.

Houston clawed back with three solo home runs — from Jeremy Pena, Cam Smith and Jose Altuve — trimming the deficit to 4-3. Altuve’s blast was the 28th postseason home run of his career, second only to Manny Ramirez, per Reuters. The Astros also loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but reliever Anthony Kay escaped the jam unscathed.

Chase Meidroth slammed the door in the sixth, crushing a three-run homer off Bryan Abreu — the first postseason blast of his career — to push the lead to 7-3, according to the Associated Press.

The loss was Houston’s ninth straight home playoff defeat, tying the third-longest streak in postseason history, per USA Today.

The White Sox, who just two seasons ago lost a modern-record 121 games, now advance to face the Cleveland Guardians in a best-of-five American League Division Series beginning Saturday in Cleveland, according to the Associated Press.

Sources

• Reuters: White Sox sweep Astros for first postseason series win since 2005
• Associated Press (via The Herald Review): White Sox pounce early, finish sweep of Astros
• USA Today: White Sox sweep Astros for first series win since 2005