White Sox defeat Astros 6-3 in AL wild-card Game 1

Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series on Tuesday. Both clubs started rookie pitchers—AJ Blubaugh for Houston and Hagen Smith for Chicago—after their regular-season aces were unavailable. Blubaugh struggled, walking three of five batters and allowing a run before being replaced, while Smith delivered three scoreless innings.

The Astros’ bullpen was forced into action early, with left-hander Bryan King and right-hander Miguel Ulloa each taking the mound as the game progressed. Houston fell behind 4-0 after a solo home run by Chicago shortstop Colson Montgomery in the fourth inning.

Nelson Velazquez hit a two-run pinch-hit homer for the White Sox in the fifth, extending the lead to 5-2. Houston responded with a two-run single by Jose Altuve in the eighth, but Chicago’s right-hander Grant Taylor retired the side, striking out Yainer Díaz to end the inning.

Taylor returned for the ninth inning, working around a leadoff walk and completing a seven-out save on 54 pitches, the highest count of his major-league career. The performance may limit his availability for Game 2. Houston’s manager Joe Espada used closer Josh Hader in the ninth, marking the first time Hader has pitched on three consecutive days since September 2023.

Both teams will rely on their remaining starters—Sean Burke for Chicago and Hunter Brown for Houston—in the upcoming game as the series shifts to Houston.