The Chicago White Sox completed a two-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-3 victory, using a four-run first inning and a decisive three-run homer in the sixth to advance to the American League Division Series.
After winning Game 1 in Houston, Chicago wasted little time putting the Astros under pressure again. Houston starter Hunter Brown entered with a 6-0 career record and 2.39 ERA against the White Sox, but those numbers provided little protection against an aggressive Chicago lineup.
The White Sox opened the game with consecutive hits, including an RBI single that produced a 1-0 lead. Houston then compounded its problems with defensive mistakes. An error at third kept the inning moving, and Andrew Benintendi delivered another single as two runs eventually scored on the play following an errant throw.
Tristan Peters added an RBI single, making it 4-0 before the first inning was over. Chicago sent 10 batters to the plate, and Brown was removed before completing the inning.
Houston immediately began working its way back.
Jeremy Peña led off the bottom of the first with a home run, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Reliever AJ Blubaugh then stabilized Houston's pitching, retiring Chicago in order in the second. Cam Smith followed with a solo homer in the bottom half, bringing the Astros within 4-2.
José Altuve made it even closer in the fourth, following a strong defensive play with a solo home run that reduced Chicago's advantage to 4-3. Houston's bullpen had settled the game considerably, with Blubaugh and Peter Lambert combining to retire 10 consecutive White Sox hitters.
The Astros then had an opportunity to change the game in the fifth. Smith was hit by a pitch and Peña singled, bringing Yordan Alvarez to the plate with Houston threatening. Chicago worked through the heart of the Astros lineup and eventually loaded the bases, but Houston failed to score, leaving Chicago ahead by one.
That missed opportunity became more significant in the sixth.
Two walks and a double steal put Chicago runners at second and third with nobody out. Chase Meidroth then delivered the game's defining swing, driving a three-run homer to left-center off Bryan Abreu. Remarkably, it was Chicago's first hit since the opening inning, but it suddenly transformed a 4-3 game into a 7-3 advantage.
Chicago's bullpen took over from there. Jordan Hicks worked two scoreless innings, and Erick Fedde handled the final six outs without allowing Houston to mount another comeback.
When Cam Smith swung through the final pitch, the White Sox had completed the sweep.
The victory gave Chicago its first postseason series win since 2005 — when the White Sox defeated Houston in the World Series — and sent the club into the AL Division Series against Cleveland. After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, Chicago's turnaround continued with another milestone few would have anticipated entering the season.
