It had been nearly 21 years since the Chicago White Sox last won a playoff series. On Wednesday, that drought came to an end in the same stadium where their last postseason series victory was completed during Game 4 of the 2005 World Series.
After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, the White Sox have gone from baseball’s laughingstock to one of its darlings. An endorsement from the Pope certainly helps, but Chicago’s 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros to punch its ticket to the ALDS has turned this team into one of the best stories in sports.
It was evident from the start of the AL Wild Card Series that this was not the White Sox of old. Despite their youth and inexperience, Chicago looked poised and composed, never flinching when the lights grew brightest and, despite a lack of depth in the starting rotation, managed to piece things together with bullpen games and openers. As a result the White Sox became the first team in MLB history to hold a lead after every inning of a multi-game postseason series
But perhaps the most impressive part of the White Sox’ sweep of the Astros was how they applied the lessons they learned throughout the regular season. Chicago’s offense limped into September, and that downward slide began with a road trip to Houston to open the month. The White Sox went 1-3 in that series, were outscored 15-10 and struck out 36 times — an average of nine per game.
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After looking at how the Astros beat them during the regular season, White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon placed an emphasis on taking more pitches and forcing the Astros to throw them strikes. In the first at-bat of the series, Sam Antonacci drew a walk to lead off Game 1.
It was the first of eight walks the White Sox drew in the series, including four in Game 2. But the more disciplined approach at the plate did more than simply create free passes; it also helped Chicago’s hitters capitalize when Houston’s ace, Hunter Brown, gave them something to hit.
Brown entered Wednesday with a 6-0 record and a 2.39 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox. But, much like he did in Game 1, Sam Antonacci set the tone early, leading off with a double. Kyle Teel followed with an RBI single to bring him home, then Miguel Vargas reached on a throwing error. Andrew Benintendi made Houston pay, driving in both Teel and Vargas with the help of another throwing error from Astros outfielder Lucas Spence. Tristan Peters then capped off the inning with another RBI single to give the White Sox a 4-0 lead.
But Houston refused to go away quietly, nearly erasing Chicago’s early lead with three solo home runs off White Sox starter Sean Burke. Still, two of the biggest keys to the series were capitalizing with runners in scoring position and keeping MVP frontrunner Yordan Alvarez in check. The White Sox passed both tests in the game’s most pivotal moment.
With Chicago clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth inning, Houston had runners on first and second with one out and Alvarez coming to the plate. Will Venable turned to left-hander Anthony Kay, calling on him for his first relief appearance of the season after spending the year primarily as an opener.
Kay quickly fell behind 3-0 in the count but battled back and got Alvarez to fly out to left field. But Kay wasn’t out of the woods yet. After walking Isaac Paredes, he found himself in bases loaded jam against Jose Altuve, a man with 119 postseason hits to his name.
Kay needed just two pitches to escape. He opened the at-bat with a fastball before finishing Altuve with a changeup low in the zone, inducing a flyout and escaping the inning without allowing a run.
That sequence appeared to reignite the White Sox offense, which had gone hitless since the first inning. In the top of the sixth, Andrew Benintendi led off with a walk before being replaced by Luisangel Acuña as a pinch runner. Acuña immediately stole second, and Tristan Peters followed with another walk, setting the stage for a perfectly executed double steal.
Chase Meidroth opened his at-bat by squaring to bunt, drawing Houston’s third baseman in toward the grass. That left the corner infielder out of position when Acuña took off for third, allowing him to slide in safely without a throw one pitch later. More importantly, the double steal put two runners in scoring position, giving Chicago another opportunity to add crucial insurance runs.
Meidroth only needed a single, but the 25-year-old second baseman has a flair for the dramatic. He got a slider from Bryan Abreu and launched it 390 feet to left field for a three-run homer. Meidroth knew it was gone the moment he made contact, flipping his bat, pumping his fist and screaming as he rounded the bases, sending the White Sox dugout into a frenzy.
With the game firmly in hand, Venable turned to another starter, Erick Fedde, to slam the door. Fedde delivered, recording the final six outs to secure the 7-3 victory and complete the White Sox’ sweep of the Astros.
The game perfectly encapsulated the White Sox season. They found contributions up and down the roster, answered every challenge Houston threw at them and, when the moment demanded it, executed. Now another challenge awaits: a chance to settle unfinished business against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
