The Chicago White Sox dropped a 6-3 decision to the Houston Astros on Monday, August 31, at Minute Maid Park. Anthony Kay lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits, and the Astros' bullpen did the rest — holding the Sox offense in check through the final frames to seal the three-run victory. Colson Montgomery went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, but it wasn't enough to overcome a shaky start from Kay.

Anthony Kay Struggles Early, Sox Fall Behind

Kay simply couldn't find a groove Monday night. He walked two batters and surrendered six hits in 4.2 innings, finishing with five earned runs and a losing decision. The Astros did their damage against Kay before Trevor Richards came on in relief. Richards worked 2.1 innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts, and Tyler Davis finished his inning with one strikeout and nothing allowed.

On the Houston side, starter Peter Lambert exited after 4.2 innings having allowed two earned runs on three hits, walking five and striking out six. It was not a dominating performance, but the Astros' bullpen stepped up when it mattered. Enyel De Los Santos — who picked up the win — threw a scoreless inning despite issuing three walks. Bennett Sousa allowed one earned run across 1.1 innings, and Steven Okert and Bryan Abreu each threw a scoreless frame to close it out. Abreu earned the save, punching out two in a ninth that included one walk.

Montgomery Provides Bright Spot for Chicago

If there was a positive to take out of Houston, it was Colson Montgomery. Montgomery went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, accounting for a chunk of the Sox's offense on a night when Chicago managed limited production. Montgomery's production was a highlight in an otherwise quiet night for Chicago's lineup against the Houston pitching staff.

Houston's offense got timely contributions from Cam Smith, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Nelson Velázquez, who launched a home run and drove in two runs on a 1-for-3 night. Those two hitters were central to the Astros building and extending their lead.

Turning Point: Kay's Exit in the Fifth

The game's decisive swing came when Kay was unable to get through the fifth inning. With five earned runs already on the board and the White Sox unable to generate consistent offense against Lambert and the Houston relievers, the deficit proved too steep. Chicago's bullpen kept the game from getting further out of hand — Richards stranded inherited runners and Davis was clean in his inning of work — but by that point, Houston had enough of a cushion to close it out comfortably.

The metadata confirms Houston overcame a one-run deficit at some point, which shows Chicago had some life in the game. But Velázquez's home run and Smith's timely hitting were enough to push Houston past any threat of a White Sox comeback.

What's Next for the White Sox

The White Sox continue their road series in Houston. Chicago will look to bounce back and get better starting pitching performances as the 2026 regular season heads into September. The bullpen showed some resilience Monday, but the Sox need their starters to go deeper into games to give the offense a chance to catch up.

  • Anthony Kay: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (Loss)
  • Trevor Richards: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
  • Tyler Davis: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
  • Colson Montgomery: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI