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White Sox End 17-Year Playoff Drought with Win Over Astros
Confirmed
In Short: The Chicago White Sox ended a 17-year playoff drought with a convincing 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series on Wednesday, October 1, 2026.
This win marked the White Sox's first playoff series victory since 2005, when they clinched the World Series title in the same ballpark, then known as Minute Maid Park.
The young White Sox team, which featured players who were kindergarten age or younger during the last playoff series win, demonstrated a strong performance, particularly in the first inning where they scored four runs.
Chicago's victory came after a dominant first game where they won 6-3, securing a sweep of the Astros in the AL Wild Card Series.
The Astros, despite finishing the regular season with an 81-81 record, struggled in the postseason, dropping their ninth straight home playoff game in the last 10 years.
Houston's playoff woes continued as they fell to 7-3, ending their 2026 MLB season.
The White Sox's success in the playoffs highlights the unpredictability of postseason play, as they entered as the final seed but showed resilience and skill.
In the decisive Game 2, the White Sox capitalized on a critical moment when the Astros narrowed the lead to 4-3, but Chicago's Chase Meidroth hit a three-run homer to solidify their lead.
The Atlanta Dream also secured their playoff berth in the WNBA, ending a long postseason drought and focusing on addressing weaknesses for the upcoming playoffs.
What this adds
The Houston Astros' season ended with a 7-3 loss to the White Sox, raising questions about the team's future direction.
The Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series, marking their first playoff series win since 2005.
Background
The Houston Astros' season ended Wednesday with a 7-3 loss to the White Sox, raising questions about the team's future direction.
The Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series, marking their first playoff series win since 2005.
What's confirmed
- The Chicago White Sox used a big first inning and a three-run homer from Chase Meidroth to propel them to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros to sweep their AL Wild Card Series.
- It’s the first time Chicago has won a playoff series since beating Houston in the World Series in 2005.
- After Tuesday night's games, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were tied for first place at 78-79.
- In fact, no team has made the postseason with a sub-.500 record, unless you count a trio of participants from years the playoffs were temporarily expanded: In the 2020 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Milwaukee and Houston were both 29-31 and made the postseason.
- Just a few weeks ago, it looked like the American League could have several clubs with losing marks in this year's playoffs.
What's still developing
- In that inning, after the Astros had narrowed what had been a 4-0 deficit to 4-3, Houston put two runners on base with AL MVP favorite Yordan Álvarez striding to the plate.
- Despite entering the playoffs as the final seed, New York has already shown that regular-season records don't mean much once the postseason begins.
- The Atlanta Dream are finally heading back to the second round of the WNBA playoffs.
- The Houston Astros fall 7-3 to Chicago and end their 2026 MLB season HOUSTON (AP) — From 100 losses to their first playoff series win in two decades, these scrappy Chicago White Sox just keep outdoing themselves.
- ALSO READ : Tampa CRA board pushes Rays stadium-related actions to November American League-best Tampa Bay (88-59) became the first team in the majors to secure a playoff spot.
- The Astros scored in the fourth against Drew Rasmussen when Isaac Paredes doubled and came home on a grounder by Yainer Diaz.
- By virtue of the Blue Jays' loss on Monday, the New York Yankees are once again playoff-bound, as they've clinched a berth in the MLB postseason for the third straight season and the ninth time in the last 10 years.
- Thursday, September 24, 2026 · 8:12 PM ET In Short: The 2026 WNBA regular season is nearing its end, leaving the playoff bracket uncertain as teams vie for the final spots.
- The Dream are staying focused and ready for the playoffs, reflecting on their early exit in last year's postseason.
- The 2026 WNBA playoff schedule begins on Sunday, September 27, with the full bracket to be finalized as the regular season concludes.
- Dream forward Naz Hillmon emphasized the importance of addressing weaknesses that could be exploited in the playoffs: 'You can’t get beat by the things you were supposed to be working on all season long.
- Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke delivered a viral quote before his start against the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series, and he followed up on it after getting the win.
Sources
- Espnlink
- Newsweeklink
- crossroadstoday.comlink
- Cbclink
- Wusflink
- CBS Sportslink
- Foxsportslink
- Fox Newslink
- Warpbeatlink
- Nbcchicagolink
- Houstonchroniclelink
- Wsjmlink
- WarpBeat — background on Astros' Season Ends in Wild Card Loss to White Sox link
- WarpBeat — background on White Sox Sweep Astros in AL Wild Card Series link
- MLB — video link