White Sox hold on for 6-3 victory over Astros in Game 1 of Wild Card series

HOUSTON – In terms of rested and reliable starters, the White Sox and Astros were in a similar place on Tuesday evening. But the Sox’ Game 1 playoff bullpen game effort was lined up days in advance, and the Astros’ was the leftovers of an all-hands-on-deck effort to clinch a playoff spot on the last day of the season. For most of the Sox’ 6-3 victory, each side looked their respective part.

A less-than-capacity crowd at Daikin Park, trained on high-quality baseball for the last decade, starting letting boos loose early, as the Sox out-hit the Astros 11-6 in a game they kept stopping just shy of breaking open, but never allowed to grow closer than arm’s length. Grant Taylor freezing Astros catcher Yainer Diaz with a full-count curveball to strand two runners ended Houston’s biggest, latest threat in the eighth.