Astros decry boos and sparse crowd after Game 1 defeat to White Sox

In Game 1 of the ALCS at Dalkin Park, the White Sox defeated the Astros 6-3 before a crowd of 34,011, about 21 % shy of a sell-out. Reliever Bennett Sousa, citing the team’s seven-year ALCS streak, called Houston fans “spoiled” and lamented the increasing boos that began in the first two innings and peaked by the seventh. The Astros’ bullpen-first approach faltered quickly, with Sousa entering a 5-2 game in the seventh and allowing a run on a wild pitch.

First-baseman Christian Walker echoed the frustration, saying the team needed cheers, not jeers, after a season of hard work. Fans did applaud Jose Altuve’s infield single and rookie Miguel Ullola’s escape from a bases-loaded jam, but overall support was limited. The team will send ace Hunter Brown to the mound for Game 2, though ticket sales remain far from a sell-out.