HOUSTON — The Chicago White Sox opened their American League wild-card playoff series with a 6-3 victory over the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Tuesday, buoyed by a unique show of support from an unexpected source: Pope Leo XIV.

Just 30 minutes before first pitch, the White Sox revealed a letter from the pope, addressed to Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. The correspondence acknowledged a letter from the team sent earlier this month, coinciding with the Sox’s promotion of pope hats at a home game at Rate Field. Pope Leo XIV praised the unifying power of sports and extended his blessings to the team and their families.

“This season has been special already with all the support we’re getting,” said White Sox manager Will Venable. “Having the pope behind us means a lot.”

Inspired by the pope’s encouraging message, the White Sox overcame the pressure of their postseason debut. Rookie pitcher Hagen Smith set the tone by pitching three scoreless innings. Offensively, outfielder Sam Antonacci, who drove in two runs, described the game as feeling like "a normal day at the office," despite it being his first playoff appearance. Colson Montgomery added a homer, helping the team build an early 5-0 lead.

The Astros fought back in the middle innings, with Nelson Velasquez delivering a two-run pinch-hit home run in the fifth to narrow the gap to 5-2. The White Sox extended their lead with a run in the seventh from a wild pitch, but Houston kept the tension high with runners on base late in the game. Grant Taylor, brought in as a reliever in the seventh inning, closed out the game by striking out the final batter in the ninth, securing the win for Chicago.

The Sox challenged a play involving Astros veteran Jose Altuve in the fourth inning, alleging illegal positioning, but the call was upheld. Despite the unsuccessful challenge, Venable praised the team’s willingness to fight every inch.

Montgomery, who set a single-season strikeout record during the regular season, acknowledged the postseason as a fresh start after an uneven finish. “None of that stuff matters anymore,” he said ahead of the game. “This is a new season. I’ve been working on the things that got me here.”

With this win, the White Sox move one victory away from advancing to the American League Division Series. As the team looks ahead, Taylor reflected the group’s mindset: “Do the same thing we’ve been doing all year—win this series, win the next one, and hopefully be in the World Series with the opportunity to do something really cool.”

Whether the pope was tuned in from Rome or not, the White Sox found an unusual source of motivation as they embark on their postseason run after years of missing the playoffs.