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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

White Sox Spoil Astros Ring Ceremony with 3-2 Win

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Besnik Zekiri | Last updated 3/31/23

The arm of Dylan Cease and the bats of Andrew Vaughn and Yasmani Grandal lifted the Sox to a victory.

The White Sox pulled off a come-from-behind win in dramatic fashion on Opening Day in Houston. Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez battled out a pitcher's duel where both earned a no-decision. The bats of Andrew Vaughn and Yasmani Grandal propelled the White Sox offense ahead late in the game.

Of Course

Dylan Cease picked up where he left off in 2022 and did so while dominating the reigning champion Houston Astros. Cease retired 19 in a row after allowing a lead-off single to Jeremy Pena. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol him with one out in the seventh after plunking Alzarez on the foot with one out.

The Cy Young runner-up mowed down Astros hitters with a final line of 6.1 innings pitched, with ten punchouts, two hits, and hit a batter. He issued no free passes and charged with one earned run. Aaron Bummer inherited Cease's runners and surrendered the game's first run after a walk to Kyle Tucker and a wild pitch.

Astros skipper Dusty Baker sang praise for Cease's performance.

"You're not used to seeing breaking balls like that right out of spring training," Baker said. "Usually, he would bounce more of them. He was getting strike one with that breaking ball. ... He was on tonight. We usually don't strike out that much, but that guy was pretty good tonight."

The Old and The New

The Chicago White Sox new first baseman, Andrew Vaughn, took over the position from former first baseman Jose Abreu. Abreu suited up for Houston Astros and batted cleanup. But Vaughn, not Abreu, delivered for the White Sox with a go-ahead two-run double to center field in the ninth.

Vaughn's heroics arrived the inning after Yasmani Grandal got the White Sox on the board with the first home run of the season. Grandal's knock evened the score at one apiece.

The White Sox had been stifled by Astros pitching through the first seven innings despite a couple of missed opportunities. Astros starter Framber Valdez went toe-to-toe with Cease. Valdez tossed five strong innings, holding the White Sox scoreless with six hits.

Missed Opportunities

The White Sox missed a prime opportunity to put runs on the board in the fifth. Elvis Andrus made the first out at home on a rundown with two on and no outs. A pitch hit Andrew Vaughn to load the bases, but Valdez pitched out of it when he retired Eloy Jimenez on a groundball.

Yoan Moncada tried to stretch a double into a triple to lead off the eighth for another missed opportunity. However, Jose Abreu couldn't handle Mocada's grounder, and the ball rolled into right field. A perfect relay from the Astros narrowly got to third in time to catch the Sox third baseman.

Kendall Graveman pitched a scoreless eighth inning to keep the score tied. He won after Vaughn put the South Siders ahead 3-1. Reynaldo Lopez allowed a mammoth homer to Yordan Alvarez with one out but converted his first career save opportunity despite a shaky inning.

Firsts

Chicago White Sox new skipper earned his first career managerial win. The players treated him to a shaving cream shower after the game.

Oscar Colas pinch-hit for starting RF Romy Gonzalez in the seventh. The rookie collected his first career hit, a single to center with one out in the frame.

Dylan Cease tied a Chicago White Sox franchise record for opening-day strikeouts with 10.

The 3-2 triumph ended the Houston Astros opening day winnings streak at ten games. In addition, the Astros players received their world series rings in the pre-game ceremony.

Injuries

Yoan Moncada started at third base, as expected. However, his availability was unclear before Wednesday's voluntary workout.

Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley were unavailable for the Astros.

What's On Tap Next?

The Pale Hose will look to earn a series tie with a win in game 2. The White Sox will turn to Lance Lynn to get them there against the Astros Christian Javier. You can catch the game on NBC Sports Chicago at 7:10. Sox on Tap will have the post-game show.