White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros 6-3 in Game 1

HOUSTON (AP) — Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

The White Sox, in the postseason for the first time since 2021, made a remarkable turnaround this year to become the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth. They had lost 100 games three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024, setting the record for most losses since 1899.

The White Sox got a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, prior to the game and got to work immediately to show off for the pontiff.

They led 3-0 after two innings and held on for their first playoff win since Oct. 10, 2021 in the ALDS against Houston.

The AL West-winning Astros eked into the playoffs with an 81-81 record to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. Houston lost its eighth straight home playoff game in its ninth trip to the postseason in the last 10 years.

Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston.

Houston had runners on first and third with two outs in the eighth after singles by Jeremy Peña and MVP-favorite Yordan Alvarez when Jose Altuve reached and Peña scored on an error by third baseman Miguel Vargas to cut the lead to 6-3.

The Astros' tough day came in front of a surprisingly thin crowd. The announced attendance was 34,011 in a park with a capacity of 40,963. The home fans peppered the team with some boos when it fell behind early.

Both teams went with a bullpen game and combined to use 13 pitchers. Chicago opened with rookie left-hander Hagen Smith, and he allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.

Houston’s rookie opener AJ Blubaugh gave up two walks, and an error by Christian Walker left runners on first and third with one out in the first. The White Sox took an early lead on a sacrifice fly by Murakami.

Bryan King plunked Montgomery to load the bases with no outs in the second before Antonacci’s single pushed the lead to 3-0.

Montgomery, who manager Will Venable dropped to ninth in the order Tuesday, opened the fourth with a 432-foot homer to straightaway center field to make it 4-0. He hit 31 home runs in the regular season but also set the single-season record with 227 strikeouts.

Chicago made it 5-0 on a bases-loaded RBI single by Chase Meidroth with one out in the fifth.

Pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to 5-2 with two outs in the fifth.

The White Sox tacked on another run on a wild pitch by Bennett Sousa in the seventh.

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA) will start Game 2. The White Sox haven’t named a starter.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Fans sit among empty seats during the second inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Grant Taylor follows through on a pitch during the seventh inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren

Houston Astros starting pitcher AJ Blubaugh (69) delivers during the first inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates with Kyle Teel (8) after scoring off a 2-run single hit by by Sam Antonacci during the second inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery (12) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning in Game 1 of baseball's American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

NEW YORK (AP) — Injured captain Aaron Judge was left off the New York Yankees' roster for their AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox starting Tuesday night.

Giancarlo Stanton, out since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs, was included. So was center fielder Trent Grisham. Both were on the bench for Game 1 in the best-of-three series.

Sidelined since Sept. 16 by a strained right calf, Judge took live batting practice on the field Monday in an effort to persuade manager Aaron Boone and the medical staff that he could play. Judge walked twice, hit a comebacker to the mound and took a called third strike against teammates Ryan Weathers and Elmer Rodríguez.

Judge did not join the pregame introductions Tuesday.

The three-time AL MVP had a platelet-poor plasma injection Sept. 21. The 34-year-old slugger was sidelined by a fractured rib from May 31 to Sept. 8 and played in just seven games before the latest injury.

“He’s had a good couple of weeks of obviously really grinding and doing everything he possibly can to be an option. Just felt like he’s not quite there yet,” Boone said Tuesday. “We’ll see about being an option moving forward.”

He was limited to 66 games this season. He hit .241 with 18 homers, 41 RBIs and an .871 OPS, including .174 with one homer and three RBIs in September.

Boone met with Judge and the athletic training staff after Monday's workout to inform him of the decision.

“Hopefully these next several days for him are beneficial and he continues to move the needle,” Boone said.

Stanton started the season with a .256 batting average, three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. The 36-year-old designated hitter, acquired after winning the NL MVP award in 2017 with Miami, had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with New York but has missed 500 of 1,194 games since (41.9%).

Stanton is viewed as a right-handed pinch-hitting option against a Boston pitching staff with seven left-handers on the roster.

“He’s never stopped going and stopped grinding even through some tough moments and some tough setbacks, and so he’s put himself in a position," Boone said.

Grisham had been sidelined since straining his right hamstring on Sept. 4. He was among New York’s 16 position players.

Ace left-hander Garrett Crochet, who won last season’s Wild Card Series opener at Yankee Stadium by allowing one run and four hits in 7 2/3 innings, was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and will be available in the bullpen.

“That could be a big arm for us,” manager Chad Tracy said.

The two-time All-Star has not pitched since April 25 because of left shoulder inflammation.

“I don’t think it was an overly difficult decision,” Tracy said. “Obviously, he’s very available tonight. It will be read and react after that. But not closing the doors on anything."

Second baseman Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champion, is out for the series against Atlanta after spraining his left ankle last Thursday.

Left-hander Brooks Raley, like Arraez acquired ahead of the trade deadline, also was left off.

Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan and infielder Otto Kemp were included as the Phillies went with 14 position players.

Philadelphia did not include any players it acquired at the trade deadline.

Infielders Rowdy Tellez and Luke Williams were included on the roster by Atlanta, which has 15 position players.

Tommy Pham, a 38-year-old outfielder acquired from Philadelphia on Aug. 31, was among 14 position players picked by Chicago for its series at Houston in a rematch of the 2005 World Series — the Astros moved to the AL for the 2013 season.

Pham hit .429 for Arizona in the 2023 World Series against Texas.

Right-hander Ethan Pecko, 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in eight starts from mid-August through the end of the regular season, is injured and was not among the Astros’ 12 pitchers. Steven Okert (hamstring) also was left off.

Houston included Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who struggled to a 6-4 record and 4.93 ERA in 15 starts and eight relief appearances after coming to Major League Baseball with a $54 million, three-year contract.

Infielder Reynal Delgado, who played in just three games for the Astros after July 19, was included along with outfielder Joey Loperfido, chosen over LaMonte Wade Jr.

Joe Musgrove was among 11 pitchers on the Padres' roster against the Cubs, and the 33-year-old right-hander could make his first big league appearance since the 2024 wild card game.

He left that game against Atlanta after 3 2/3 innings because of elbow tightness and had Tommy John surgery that Oct. 11. He made four minor league appearances this past August but then experienced soreness. In 2021, he threw San Diego's first no-hitter.

“What we’ve seen from him the last week or 10 days has been good, impressive,” manager Craig Stammen said.

Designated hitter Miguel Andujar was included. Right-hander Randy Vásquez and infielder Sung-Mun Song were left off.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman was included despite a left shoulder that was sore after he made a sliding tag at third base on Sept. 23.

Left-hander Caleb Thielbar, who had a 4.86 ERA this year, was not among the Cubs’ 12 pitchers.

Right-handed-hitting Gabriel Arias was among the position players.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton hits during live batting practice before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton takes live batting practice before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Injured New York Yankees' Aaron Judge sits with teammates in the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)