Sixth-Inning Surge Defines Win
The Houston Astros turned a close contest into a rout during the sixth inning, exploding for eight runs to break open a game that had been tightly contested. The offensive explosion was anchored by a two-hit double from Walker and a solo home run by Smith, which shifted the momentum entirely in Houston’s favor.
Before the sixth, the Chicago White Sox held a 5-0 lead. The visitors trailed early as Chicago’s offense capitalized on multiple opportunities in the first inning. C. Montgomery hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought Antonacci home, followed by a B. Montgomery single to right that scored Murakami.
Meidroth then scored when hit by a pitch, loading the bases. In the fifth inning, White Sox pitcher Kai-Wei Teng allowed two more runs via wild pitches that scored Benintendi twice, and Meidroth’s double to center plated B. Montgomery, extending the lead to 5-0.
Astros Respond with Power and Speed
Houston’s comeback began in the bottom of the sixth. Wade Jr. singled to right, driving in Alvarez to make it 1-5. The inning quickly unraveled for Chicago.
Walker doubled to left, scoring Paredes, Wade Jr., and Altuve to tie the game at 5-5. Smith then launched a 383-foot home run to left, putting Houston ahead 7-5. Altuve reached on an infield single to shortstop, allowing Peña to score, making it 8-5.
Wade Jr. walked to close the inning with a run scoring, extending the lead to 9-5.
