Chicago White Sox finish off Houston Astros to advance in AL play-offs

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-red-sox/zaXTinF3/"]The White Sox[/a] - who received a letter of support from lifelong fan Pope Leo XIV before their wildcard series at Houston began - fended off a spirited [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-astros/lfZXonNq/"]Astros[/a] comeback thanks to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/meidroth-chase/4dwivX3o/"]Meidroth[/a]'s blast [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/baseball/chicago-white-sox-SW9D1eZo/houston-astros-lfZXonNq/?mid=t6L5tFrI"]to win 7-3[/a].[/p][p]"[b]That's everything, man. Coming through for the guys, there's no better feeling in the world,[/b]" said Meidroth.[/p][p]Having defied expectations to even reach post-season, after losing 100 games in three dreadful previous years, Chicago progressed from the best-of-three series in just two games, and now faces [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-guardians/4K05MrFG/"]Cleveland[/a] in an American League division series.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-white-sox/SW9D1eZo/"]White Sox[/a] followed up an impressive 6-3 win Tuesday with an explosive start, racking up four runs in their first inning.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonacci-samuel/pEaDFk7U/"]Sam Antonacci[/a] hit a double off the game's fourth pitch, and scored off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/teel-kyle/va7rtFj6/"]Kyle Teel[/a]'s ensuing single. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/benintendi-andrew/t8Ey7K46/"]Andrew Benintendi[/a]'s line drive sent Teel over home plate, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vargas-miguel/KWk2Y3Hq/"]Miguel Vargas[/a] following him after an overthrow.[/p][embed guid="a073ed10-75c2-4158-9955-45cafa14ef3f" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2105451790506324438?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Benintendi made it 4-0 from a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/peters-tristan/KbUQ77xb/"]Tristan Peters[/a] single. With bases loaded the Astros yanked ace pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brown-hunter/Qkpkw71c/"]Hunter Brown[/a] and finally closed the first inning.[/p][p]Houston did not collapse. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pena-jeremy/v3C6Ypcs/"]Jeremy Pena[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-cam/SOee0aUg/"]Cam Smith[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/altuve-jose/pvhV6HJc/"]Jose Altuve[/a] each walloped solo home runs - in the first, second and fourth innings - to narrow the deficit.[/p][p]Chicago went without a hit until the sixth.[/p][p]But, following two walks and three stolen bases, Meidroth emphatically ended that barren run and put the game to rest with a three-run homer over left field.[/p][p]"[b]I was just looking for something out there. Happened to get a good pitch. You know, he's a really good pitcher. He left one up for me, and I was able to catch it in,[/b]" said Meidroth.[/p]