Astros players criticize boos from home fans after wild-card loss to White Sox
Houston first baseman Christian Walker and reliever Bennett Sousa said they were frustrated by boos from fans after the Astros fell 6-3 to Chicago in Game 1 of the wild-card series.
Houston fell 6-3 to the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the wild-card round on Tuesday, allowing five runs before scoring and committing several self-inflicted errors, including walks, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch that produced three of the runs. After the seventh-inning wild pitch, fans booed the Astros as they returned to the dugout.
First baseman Christian Walker said the boos were "extremely frustrating" for a home player, adding that the team needs cheers and energy from its supporters. > "It's extremely frustrating as a home player. We're here, playing at home; we need cheers. We need energy. We don't need boos. What purpose does that serve in that moment? Whatever fans are feeling, we're feeling it tenfold. We're the ones out there. We're the ones in the fight. We worked our butts off this whole season to put ourselves in this spot, and for guys to get booed, it's frustrating."
Reliever Bennett Sousa, who threw the wild pitch, said he was "pretty pissed off" by the reaction. > "I'm not going to lie to you, I was pretty pissed off in the dugout when I came in, about the boos. This team has laid a lot on the line to be in this position to give the fans a playoff game — a playoff series. We want their support."
The Astros entered the postseason after a narrow division-title finish, posting an 11-13 record in September and edging the Texas Rangers for the American League West crown. Their next two games will determine whether they can advance and potentially win back fan support.