The Chicago White Sox closed out their American League Wild Card Series with a 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday, completing a sweep and advancing to the AL Division Series.
A strong start — highlighted by a big first inning — set the tone for Chicago, and infielder Chase Meidroth delivered the decisive blow with a three-run home run that put the game firmly out of reach.
The win marks the White Sox's first postseason series victory since their 2005 World Series run, when they beat Houston to claim the title. The milestone comes in manager Will Venable's second season in charge, and the club said it had also been buoyed by a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV as it prepares for the next round.
Chicago will next face the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series, which opens Saturday in Cleveland. The White Sox will look to carry the momentum of their sweep into the next stage of the playoffs as they aim to advance deeper into October baseball.
Key moments
Meidroth's three-run shot supplied the biggest blow of the night after Chicago's early offensive outburst. The White Sox finished the game with seven runs to Houston's three, sealing the series without allowing it to extend past the Wild Card round.
What comes next
The two teams will turn their attention to the ALDS matchup beginning this weekend in Cleveland, where Chicago will face a club that captured the AL Central. The White Sox enter the series with renewed postseason confidence after breaking a 21-year drought in series wins.