![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ctc-APTOPIX-White-Sox-Astros-Baseball_266196719.jpg\")
Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci catches a line drive by Houston Astros’ Nelson Vel\u00e1zquez during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)<\/p>\nHOUSTON \u2014 Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke walked the first two batters he faced on Tuesday against the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n
He received a visit from pitching coach Zach Bove.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust kind of came at me like, \u2018Look, let\u2019s not go down this road again,’\u201d Burke said. \u201c\u2018Let\u2019s get back to what you\u2019re doing good.\u2019 I feel like I\u2019m someone that you can kind of get at me a little bit when I\u2019m on the mound. I\u2019ll take kind to that and he knows that. Kind of one of those visits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two flyouts and a strikeout followed as Burke got out of the first inning without allowing a run. The right-hander got into a rhythm the rest of the evening, allowing one hit over 5 2\/3 scoreless innings in a 5-1 win in front of 26,838 at Daikin Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s honestly, in my mind, one of the better starts I\u2019ve had this year just because I obviously didn\u2019t have my best stuff and had to kind of grind through that,\u201d Burke said. \u201cJust the ability to stay in the game and continue to put up zeroes and give innings. Obviously you\u2019d like to go out there and just mow down the lineup every single time.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut a night like tonight, when I didn\u2019t have my best stuff, I can still go out there and almost throw six innings. That to me, kind of means more for my growth and development of the past couple of years than the games where you\u2019re feeling great and you just go out there and mow the lineup down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci catches a line drive by Houston Astros’ Nelson Vel\u00e1zquez during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)<\/p>\n
Burke struck out six and walked four in the 104-pitch outing. The only hit he allowed came in the fifth, a one-out double to center field by Taylor Trammell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought he was really impressive,\u201d manager Will Venable said. \u201cObviously walked the first two batters. Wasn\u2019t sharp there the first few innings, but got us through 5 2\/3. I thought he did a great job of really settling down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burke and relievers Bryan Hudson, Jordan Hicks and Grant Taylor combined to hold the Astros to three hits.<\/p>\n
With the win, the first-place Sox (73-65) maintained their three-game lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The Guardians (70-68) beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The offense came through Tuesday for the Sox with some two-out production. Andrew Benintendi drove in Sam Antonacci with a two-out single in the fifth against reliever Kai-Wei Teng for the game\u2019s first run. Colson Montgomery followed with a two-run double.<\/p>\n
Randal Grichuk drove in two with a two-out double against reliever Tatsuya Imai in the seventh inning, stretching the lead to 5-0.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never faced him before,\u201d Grichuk said. \u201cSaw a couple of heaters. Tried to let it get deep and luckily he put one that was out over (the plate) and I was able to put a good swing on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a nice bounce back offensively for the Sox after the team went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 14 during Monday\u2019s 6-3 loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go back and look at the last few games and kind of the underlying stuff with our swing decisions and hitting the ball hard, did a really nice job offensively with not a lot to show for it,\u201d Venable said. \u201cWe had 10 walks (Monday) and didn\u2019t really have that big hit. So today was the day that we continued to have good at-bats, get base runners and the two-out hitting was outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n