Christian Walker hit a three-run double as part of an eight-run sixth inning for the visiting Houston Astros, who defeated the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Friday.
Cam Smith had a two-run homer and LaMonte Wade Jr. drove in a pair of runs for Houston, which rallied from a five-run deficit to win its fourth straight game.
After Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti allowed three runs in the first inning, he exited the game with nerve irritation in his right foot. Houston used six relievers, with Kai-Wei Teng (5-6) throwing two innings of two-run ball as the pitcher of record.
Davis Martin started for Chicago, allowing four runs on six hits across five innings while striking out three. Bryan Hudson (3-3) surrendered four runs on three hits, recording just two outs in the sixth for the White Sox, who had won seven of their previous nine games.
Chicago tagged Arrighetti for three runs in the bottom of the first. After Sam Antonacci singled, Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas worked back-to-back walks to load the bases with nobody out.
Colson Montgomery then drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Braden Montgomery singled to push the lead to 2-0. Arrighetti continued to struggle, hitting Tristan Peters and Chase Meidroth in consecutive at bats, allowing Chicago’s third run to score.
Chicago tacked on in the fifth against Teng. Andrew Benintendi walked and Braden Montgomery singled to begin the inning, before Teng’s wild pitch made it 4-0. Meidroth then laced his 18th double of the season, driving in Montgomery to extend the lead to 5-0.
In the sixth, Yordan Alvarez singled, Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch and Jose Altuve reached on a base hit to load the bases. Wade then singled for the Astros’ first run.
Hudson relieved Martin and allowed Walker’s bases-clearing double, cutting Houston’s deficit to one. After Lucas Spence struck out, Smith belted his 13th home run of the season to give the visitors a 6-5 lead.
Hudson’s sixth-inning woes continued, allowing Jeremy Pena’s single and Alvarez’s walk.
Seranthony Dominguez entered for the White Sox, walking Paredes before Altuve’s infield single gave Houston a 7-5 advantage. Wade then earned his second RBI of the inning with a bases-loaded walk, stamping the eight-run frame.
Christian Vasquez added insurance in the top of the ninth, driving in the Astros’ ninth run with an RBI double off Chris Murphy.
