White Sox defeat Astros 6-3, first draw in Wild Card Series

Murakami Munataka (right). (AFP)

[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] The best-of-three wild card series started today. The White Sox had 11 hits today, and finally defeated the Astros 6-3 on the road, allowing the White Sox to take the lead. This is also the first time the White Sox have won in the playoffs since 2021.

The White Sox drew two walks in the first inning and Astros first baseman Christian Walker made a pass error, allowing Japanese slugger Murakami Munetaka to hit a high fly sacrifice fly to score one run. In the second inning, the White Sox loaded the bases with 2 hits and a touch ball. Sam Antonacci scored 2 runs with a timely hit. In the fourth inning, the White Sox's Colson Montgomery scored an extra point. In the fifth inning, Chase Meidroth hit a timely hit and scored another 1 point, helping the White Sox lead 5-0.

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Taylor (right). (Reuters)

The Astros closed the gap with Nelson Velázquez's two-run shot in the bottom of the 5th inning. The White Sox added 1 run in the 7th inning with a wild shot. In the 8th inning, Astros third baseman Miguel Vargas made a passing error and lost 1 run. In the end, the White Sox won.

The White Sox used 5 pitchers in this game. Hagen Smith, a 23-year-old rookie left-hander, pitched 3 scoreless innings. Relief Grant Taylor allowed 1 run in 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run and struck out 5 times without allowing a run. They maintained the victory. The Astros used 8 pitchers today, but they still could not suppress the White Sox line.

The White Sox, who had lost at least 100 losses in a single season in the past three years, posted an 84-78 record in this year's regular season and advanced to the American League as the third wild card. Now the White Sox draw first in the Wild Card Series. If they win tomorrow and sweep their opponents, it will be the White Sox's first playoff series since 2005, when the White Sox won the World Series.