The Chicago White Sox faced the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series on Tuesday. They won 6-3 in the first game of the best-of-three at Daikin Field in Houston.
After the game, left fielder Sam Antonacci credited the pitching staff for setting the tone, per Rbooke Fletcher of White Sox on CHSN.
“Credit to the pitching staff,” Antonacci said. “They pitched their butts off.”
Antonacchi went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. He got things started in the second inning with a two-run single in left field.
Meanwhile, the bullpen came through for rookie starter Hagen Smith. Smith pitched three scoreless innings, striking out one batter while giving up two hits. Then relievers Jordan Hicks, Sean Newcomb, Dave Sandlin, and Grant Taylor came on in a game when the bullpen on both sides set the tone.
Taylor finished with 5 strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched. The Astros used seven relievers after starter AJ Blubaugh pitched 0.2 innings.
Going into the series, Chicago has a 26-player roster. They include 14 position players and 12 starters. That leaves room for multi-relief pitching instead of shouldering the burden on a starter.
The White Sox made the postseason after finishing the last two seasons with 100+ losses. However, they fell short of the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central Division.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 4:00 pm CST/5:00 pm EST. If the White Sox win, they will face the Guardians in the ALDS beginning Saturday, Oct. 3.
The White Sox haven't announced a starter yet to face Astros starter Hunter Brown on Wednesday.