Hayden Wesneski kept Chicago off balance for seven scoreless innings, and Houston finally converted its pressure in the eighth to beat the White Sox 2-0 at Daikin Park. The Astros were held without a run through seven innings, but Nelson Velazquez delivered the decisive two-RBI hit in the only scoring frame of the night. Houston’s pitching controlled the game from the opening pitch, while Chicago never found the swing needed to change the balance.

Wesneski struck out five across seven innings and lowered the path to victory for Houston’s bullpen, working deep enough to preserve a game that offered no margin for error. Davis Martin matched the tone for Chicago, allowing his club to stay within one swing through 5.2 innings while striking out three. Tristan Peters provided Chicago’s clearest offensive contribution with a 2-for-3 night, but the White Sox could not turn that contact into a run. Yordan Alvarez was Houston’s most consistent hitter, going 2-for-4 and helping keep the Astros’ lineup engaged during the long scoreless stretch.

Houston’s breakthrough came in the eighth, when Velazquez produced both runs in his two at-bats and gave the Astros the first separation either offense had created. Isaac Paredes scored once and went 1-for-3, while the Astros’ bullpen protected the lead behind Wesneski. Josh Hader worked a scoreless ninth with one strikeout, and Chicago’s Sean Newcomb supplied two scoreless innings of relief, but the White Sox had no answer once Houston moved ahead.

The Astros improved to 72-69 and narrowed the gap behind the 73-67 White Sox with a win built on pitching depth and one timely eighth-inning sequence. Houston will take this formula forward: keep the game tight, trust its starters to cover innings, and wait for a matchup to break open. Chicago’s staff gave the club every chance to win, but the offense now has to generate more than isolated hits if the White Sox are to protect their position in the standings.