Astros Surge Past White Sox Behind Walker, Smith in Sixth Inning

Sixth-Inning Explosion Defines Contest

A six-run barrage in the bottom of the sixth inning proved decisive as the Houston Astros defeated the Chicago White Sox 9-5 at Rate Field on Friday. The victory improved the Astros' record to 51-54, while the White Sox fell to 54-48. The game drew an attendance of 28,657 spectators to the Chicago venue.

Chicago established an early lead, capitalizing on Houston's pitching struggles in the opening frames. The White Sox loaded the bases against starter Spencer Arrighetti, who allowed three earned runs in just one inning. C. Montgomery hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Antonacci, followed by B. Montgomery’s single that brought Murakami home.

Meidroth then scored on a hit-by-pitch, extending the deficit to 3-0. The White Sox added two more runs in the fifth inning, with Benintendi scoring twice on wild pitches by Kai-Wei Teng, and Meidroth driving in B. Montgomery with a double to center.

Walker and Smith Spark Comeback

Houston’s offense erupted in the sixth inning, turning the game on its head. Wade Jr. opened the rally with a single to right, scoring Alvarez. The momentum shifted further when Walker doubled to left, driving in three runs to give Houston a 4-3 lead.

Smith followed with a 383-foot home run to left, adding two more runs and pushing the score to 6-5. Altuve contributed with an infield single that scored Peña, and Wade Jr. walked to bring Alvarez home, making it 8-5.

Pitching Performances and Final Score

Kai-Wei Teng earned the win for Houston, pitching two innings and allowing two earned runs. He was supported by a strong relief effort from the Astros' bullpen. Bennett Sousa, Bryan Abreu, and Steven Okert each pitched a scoreless inning to preserve the lead. Josh Hader closed the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.

For Chicago, Davis Martin started and pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits. Bryan Hudson took the loss after giving up four earned runs in 0.2 innings of relief. Trevor Richards pitched two scoreless innings, while Chris Murphy allowed one earned run in his appearance.

The White Sox added a run in the ninth inning when Vázquez hit a ground-rule double, scoring Trammell, but it was insufficient to overcome the six-run deficit. The final score of 9-5 reflected Houston’s ability to capitalize on key scoring opportunities while limiting Chicago’s offense after the early innings.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816247