Lance McCullers Jr.’s arm and Yordan Alvarez’ provided big contributions to the Houston Astros’ 6-1, Game 1 victory in the American League Division Series over the Chicago White Sox Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

McCullers Jr. supplied a stellar pitching performance that featured four strikeouts and no walks over 6.2 innings. His outing made him the first Houston pitcher to go that deep into a postseason start without allowing a base on balls since Brandon Backe in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series which was also against the White Sox.

“The main thing is he stayed away from the high-pitch count inning, which permitted him to go deep in the game,” Manager Dusty Baker said postgame. “I know he was hoping to go the full seven innings, but they started hitting in that one inning so we had to come get him.”

“I didn’t have any walks today because I had that plan, that focus, and I wanted to go into the game, I wanted to attack. Any time you can avoid having men on base just in general, it’s important,” McCullers Jr. said. “A lot of leverage counts, 1-2, 2-2 counts, where I could have gone for the strikeout or things of that nature, but I was trying to just throw good pitches for weak contacts, keep the pitch count low, try to go deep into the game and give us the best chance.”

Alvarez complemented that effort with an RBI double and a solo home run that helped knock out Chicago’s starting pitcher Lance Lynn who finished with five earned runs allowed, six hits, four strikeouts and two walks in just 3.2 innings pitched.

“He is in the middle of our lineup. We don’t know when he’s going to leave the yard, and you know he’s going to drive in some big runs, life wasn’t too pleasant last year without Yordan,” Baker said. “That’s a huge bat. I thought many times over the winter what it would have been like to have Yordan in there. But nobody is going to give me any sympathy for a player that’s hurt, especially a key player like that.”

Similarly, Alvarez was grateful to be back in the Astros’ lineup and dealing damage instead of watching it from home.

“I felt bad being away from the team all of last year. I tried to do my best to be into it as possible, watching from TV and supportive from a distance,” Alvarez said. “To be able to be ack with the team and be able to help it out is really special.”

McCullers Jr. saw the culmination of a long recovery road as well and pitched in front of fans for the first time since the 2018 postseason.

“The introductions while I was warming up, for me, it was really cool. That’s the first time there’s been an introduction type situation at home where I’ve been in the bullpen, and the crowd went nuts for me,” McCullers Jr. said. “I think I got the chills in the bullpen and just wanted to really have a good game for the crowd and for our team.”

The Houston crowd had plenty to cheer about other offensive performances including multiple-hit games from Carlos Correa, Jake Meyers and Michael Brantley, the latter two of whom combined for three RBI as well. For the rookie Meyers, his RBI opened the scoring and Brantley recorded a two-RBI double that scored Meyers.

“He had a great work ethic,” Brantley said of Meyers. “He’s a great kid that asks a lot of great questions. He is always willing to learn. I’m really excited for him. It was some big swings for us today, obviously for us to get the first run on the board as well.”

McCullers Jr. and Brantley both saw Thursday's win as a full-team effort.

“Our offense was spectacular today, and they did a heck of a job with a tough pitcher in Lynn, one of the best in the AL, and also with a really tough bullpen,” McCullers Jr. said. “Everyone did their part, did their thing, and we came out with a great win. Getting another big win tomorrow, coming out with the same tone, aggressiveness and want to win is important.”

“I think we did a great job as a team overall. Not in the postseason, it’s not about one guy for the most part. It’s a team effort,” Brantley said. “When we have a lineup like we do and Lance threw the ball and the bullpen threw well today. I think that’s the important key to keep it simple and trust one another.”

The Astros will look to carry the momentum into tomorrow’s Game 2 back in Houston Friday afternoon with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

“It’s a long way from over. These guys are a quality team. You especially want to win that first game. That’s why you play for that home-field advantage,” Baker said. “We’ve got our work cut out tomorrow, and it’s a good feeling to win that first one.”