The Chicago White Sox secured a 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday, completing a sweep of the American League Wild Card Series and marking their first playoff series win since 2005. The win propelled the White Sox into the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, scheduled to begin Saturday in Cleveland.
Chicago’s early offensive surge set the tone for the game, as they scored four runs in the first inning. This strong start followed their six-run effort in the previous game, reflecting a potent offense early in the series. A key moment came in the sixth inning when White Sox outfielder Chase Meidroth hit a three-run home run off Astros reliever Bryan Abreu, extending Chicago’s lead to 7-3.
Houston starting pitcher Hunter Brown, previously undefeated in six career starts against Chicago with a 2.39 ERA, was removed after recording only two outs. The Astros’ defense struggled in the opening inning, committing two errors that contributed to the early White Sox scoring. After Brown’s exit, Astros pitchers AJ Blubaugh and Peter Lambert, both working on two days’ rest, combined to retire 13 consecutive batters.
Despite the deficit, the Astros mounted a late comeback attempt with solo home runs from Jeremy Peña, Cam Smith, and Jose Altuve, narrowing the gap to one run in the sixth inning. However, Chicago maintained control for the remainder of the game.
The White Sox’s postseason success marks a significant turnaround following three consecutive seasons with 100 losses, a record in Major League Baseball for a team rebounding from multiple 100-loss campaigns to a playoff berth. Under second-year manager Will Venable, the team rallied from last place finishes to reach the postseason. Venable expressed pride in his team’s perseverance and collective belief throughout the season.
The Astros entered the playoffs as the AL West division champions but finished the regular season with an 81-81 record, becoming the first team to advance to the postseason without a winning record. Their struggles at home continued in postseason play with this loss marking their ninth consecutive home defeat across nine playoff appearances in the last decade.
Meidroth highlighted the significance of returning postseason baseball to Chicago, praising the support of the team's fans. The White Sox now prepare to face Cleveland, seeking to extend their playoff run as the Division Series begins this weekend.