Just like that, the Astros are on the brink of elimination. White Sox 6. Astros 3.
What unfolded over the course of a late afternoon affair was a glaring contrast between the clubs going well beyond the final box score. Chicago’s core nucleus of young talent might be eventually as good as what Houston had back in 2015. The similarities of emerging from the doldrums are striking.
Munetaka Murakami brought in the game’s first run with an RBI Sac Fly, scoring Sam Antonacci. The Sox would increase their
lead the following frame against Bryan King. Montgomery and Meidroth reached on singles and then Colston Montgomery was hit, loading the bases. Sam Antonacci once again produced, this time punching out a 2 run RBI single, making it 3-0. King faced 5 batters, allowed 4 hits and a HBP. The only reason there wasn’t more damage was due to a pair of K’s from Miguel Ullola who electrified the crowd with his velocity.
All told on the day, Houston would run through 8 different pitchers. AJ Blubaugh in a starting role was wild throughout the opening stages, administering three walks. He threw 27 pitches and recorded just 2 outs. Not exactly the result Brent Strom was looking for when lured out of retirement a month ago.
In the 4th, Colton Montgomery still smarting from the earlier HBP, launched a solo blast to center field making it 4-0 and you could feel the air and anticipation leave the ballpark. That would remain the score until the fifth when Chase Meidroth brought home Murakami.
Houston finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Nelson Velazquez homered to left, bringing home Lucas Spence. Chicago grabbed one of those runs back curtesy of a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Astros flirted with a comeback. Pena and Alvarez each singled and then Altuve reached on an error which was compounded by Murakami’s adventures in the outfield. That made it 6-3 and that would be your final.
Game Notes:
Oft he previous 12 Wild Card matchups, 11 of the 12 teams to win game 1 of the series have won the series.
