Astros 2, White Sox 1
Astros 2, White Sox 1: Erik Bedard pitched six strong innings and Jose Altuve recorded two hits and an RBI as host Houston took the opener of the four-game series.
Bedard (2-3) limited Chicago to an unearned run and three hits en route to his first win in four home starts this season. The veteran left-hander, who struck out six and walked three, has allowed fewer than three runs in seven of his last eight outings.
Chris Sale (5-5) was the hard-luck loser thanks to a pair of errors in the fifth inning by White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Sale tossed his third career complete game and second this year, yielding two unearned runs and five hits with a walk and 14 strikeouts in eight frames.
With two on and two out in the fifth, Ramirez fielded a grounder off the bat of Brandon Barnes in the hole and threw wide of second base, allowing Ronny Cedeno to score the tying run. Altuve followed with a grounder to third that he beat out for a single, plating Trevor Crowe for a 2-1 lead.
Two relievers bridged the gap to Jose Veras, who worked around a walk in the ninth for his 12th save in 15 opportunities.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago scored its lone run in the fourth inning, when 1B Paul Konerko led off with a double, advanced on a passed ball and came home on DH Adam Dunn's sacrifice fly. Dunn has collected eight RBIs over his last five games. ... Sale, who has lost three consecutive starts, fell one strikeout shy of his career high set at Tampa Bay on May 28, 2012, when he worked 7 1/3 innings. ... The Astros have won two straight following a six-game losing streak.