White Sox Sweep Astros to Reach ALDS

Overview

• The White Sox completed a two-game Wild Card Series sweep of the Houston Astros with a 7-3 victory on Wednesday that ended the short series and advanced Chicago to the ALDS.
• Sean Burke started Game 2 and pitched four innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out eight batters to anchor a White Sox pitching plan that carried the win.
• Chicago took control early by scoring four runs in the first inning and added three more in the sixth to keep Houston from mounting a comeback.
• Manager Will Venable had publicly labeled Burke the club’s ace before the game and used that starter assignment to unsettle the Astros’ usual matchup plans.
• The sweep removes a postseason veteran Astros club that led MLB in homers this year from contention and sets a best-of-five ALDS between the White Sox and the Guardians starting Oct. 3.