White Sox end 21-year playoff drought as Yankees and Padres complete sweeps

• Meidroth's three-run homer seals Chicago's sweep

• Yankees rout Red Sox 9-2 to advance against Rays

• Padres eliminate Cubs to set up Brewers showdown

The Chicago White Sox used a big first inning and a three-run homer from Chase Meidroth to propel them to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday and sweep their AL wildcard series.

It's the first time Chicago has won a playoff series since beating Houston in the World Series in 2005. Under the direction of second-year skipper Will Venable and with a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, the White Sox advanced to face AL Central champion Cleveland in the AL Division Series beginning Saturday in Cleveland.