(Chicago) Two slaps from Leury García, a controversial run from Yasmani Grandal and a solid performance from the White Sox relief, led by Liam Hendriks, sum up Chicago’s first victory in the American League Division Seride led 2- 1 by the Houston Astros.
Whenever the White Sox got into trouble, they’ve always found a way out. García and Grandal hit the long ball in the victory.
Supported by a noisy crowd of 40,288 fans, the Central Division champions closed a 5-1 deficit to claim a victory in this first home game of the postseason playoffs in 13 years.
Tim Anderson added three hits to his record and Ryan Tepera managed to turn the boat around for the White Sox after starter Dylan Cease and reliever Michael Kopech struggled.
PHOTO MATT MARTON, USA TODAY SPORTS
Tim Anderson (7) hit three hits in the game.
The Astros were hopeful that they could sweep the series to the best of five games and land their fifth straight ticket to the American Championship Series.
The regular season champions in the West Division started the game off on the right foot, but were then unable to generate a single hit in the last five innings.
“I think we just got a message,” Grandal said after the game.
The fourth clash between the two teams is scheduled for Monday afternoon, but the rain could come and change the plans.
The Astros, familiar with the playoff experience, seemed on their way to passing the steamroller after two impressive home wins and a 5-1 lead in the third set of the third game.
Kyle Tucker had taken matters into his own hands for the Astros with a double two-run good against Cease in the second set, then a good two-run homer against Kopech in the next set.
PHOTO CHARLES REX ARBOGAST, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyle Tucker produced two runs on a homerun in the third inning.
The White Sox, however, had no intention of letting themselves die without responding. After a two-point slap from Grandal across the fence to the left which narrowed the gap to 5-3, Yoán Moncada and Gavin Sheets went on goal for Leury Garcia who watched two balls go by. pitcher Luis Garcia before it was sent to the showers for the benefit of reliever Yimi García.
The decision came to haunt manager Dusty Baker, however, when Leury Garcia, a short five-foot-eight, 190-pounder, tucked Yimi García’s offering behind the center-field fence 436 feet from home plate.
The score game was tied 6-6 when the White Sox finally took the lead definitively with a three-point push in the fourth inning.
The streak was marked by controversial play. After a one-run single from José Abreu left runners in first and third base with just one out, Grandal hit a weak grounding towards Yuli Gurriel at first base. The latter tried to remove the runner who was spinning at home plate, but his throw hit Grandal who was running on the grass, well inside the lane.
Luis Robert came to score on the play. The Astros tried to plead the obstruction of the runner, but after consultation, the referees decided not to intervene.
