Astros Edge Out White Sox in Series Opener

The Chicago White Sox aimed to overcome a deficit against the Houston Astros Monday night. Down by four runs, they loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning. The Astros brought in left-handed reliever Bennett Sousa, countered by the Sox with right-handed pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk. Grichuk made contact with a slider but flew out to left field.

The Sox struggled to generate big hits, resulting in a 6-3 loss at Daikin Park attended by 21,236 fans. The team went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 14 on base in the loss. Despite drawing 10 walks, they struck out 11 times in the series opener.

We had a couple of opportunities and didn’t get that big hit, manager Will Venable noted. Grichuk, coming off the bench with the bases loaded, has delivered before. Our at-bats were good. Houston’s starter, Peter Lambert, pitched well and avoided giving up big hits.

White Sox starting pitcher Anthony Kay took the mound in the first inning, while the Astros capitalized on their chances. Nick Allen reached on a throwing error by Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas in the third inning and scored on a fielder’s choice. The Sox responded with two runs in the fourth, including a bases-loaded walk by Munetaka Murakami, but couldn’t capitalize on additional opportunities.

The Astros took back the lead in the fourth inning, which included a controversial moment. Kay’s second pitch to Cam Smith was ruled a ball, although the Sox believed he had fouled it off. Kay queried the umpire, but the call stood, and Smith later hit a triple. Nelson Velázquez followed with a home run, putting the Astros up 3-2.

I thought it was clearly a foul ball, Kay said. Things spiraled when the count wasn’t corrected.

In the fifth inning, a missed catch by left fielder Sam Antonacci on a hit by Isaac Paredes loaded the bases, and Christian Walker walked to extend the Astros’ lead to 4-2. Smith added a two-run double off reliever Trevor Richards, widening Houston’s lead to 6-2. Kay allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The Sox had another chance with bases loaded in the sixth but couldn’t seize the opportunity. Colson Montgomery hit his 29th homer of the season in the seventh, narrowing the score to 6-3. The Astros held firm despite some erratic moments.

It’s going to be a grind, going through September, Montgomery said. We have good teams in our division. We’ll take it one game at a time, and I think we’re in a good spot.

The White Sox (72-65), leading the division, head into September three games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians (69-68), who did not play on Monday.