The Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs both began their Wild Card Series Tuesday, giving local fans plenty to follow after the Bears’ win the night before.
The White Sox defeated the Astros 6-3 in Game 1 in Houston at 4 p.m., and the Cubs fell to the Padres in San Diego 8-0.
The Blackhawks also play Tuesday night, creating a busy stretch for Chicago sports fans.
A letter from White Sox fan and Chicago native Pope Leo XIV to the team’s chairman, Jerry Reinsdorf, arrived at Rate Field.
The letter thanks the team for their “pope night” tribute over the summer.
White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros 6-3 in Game 1
Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.
The White Sox, in the postseason for the first time since 2021, made a remarkable turnaround this year to become the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth. They had lost 100 games three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024, setting the record for most losses since 1899.
“We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great,” manager Will Venable said.
He added that he was impressed with the poise his young team showed.
“A bunch of young guys that haven’t been in this situation before, they didn’t back down at all,” he said. “So really good stuff to come out and have an early win.”
The White Sox got a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, prior to the game and got to work immediately to show off for the pontiff.
They led 3-0 after two innings and held on for their first playoff win since Oct. 10, 2021 in the ALDS against Houston.
The AL West-winning Astros eked out a playoff spot with an 81-81 record to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. Houston lost its eighth straight home playoff game in its ninth trip to the postseason in the last 10 years.
Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston.
Manager Joe Espada is confident his team will respond Wednesday to force a Game 3.
“Our backs have been against the corner before and I think that’s when we are our best, when we fight back,” he said. “We know it’s a do or die and we’ve been here before, so I really admire how they bounce back and they react to challenges. I expect them to go out there and bounce back and our offense to get going.”
