CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Houston Astros erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning Friday night, erasing a five-run deficit and defeating the Chicago White Sox 9-5 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Astros, who entered with a 51-54 record, snapped their opponent’s momentum after falling behind 5-0 through five innings. The White Sox, now 54-48, had built their lead on a three-run first inning and two more runs in the fifth.

Houston’s comeback began quietly. Yordan Alvarez led off the sixth with a single. After a successful challenge overturned a hit-by-pitch call, Isaac Paredes was awarded first base, loading the bases. Jose Altuve singled to left, scoring Alvarez and keeping the bases full. LaMonte Wade Jr. followed with an RBI single, trimming the deficit to 5-1. Christian Walker then cleared the bases with a double to left, scoring Paredes, Altuve and Wade to tie the game at 4.

One out later, Cam Smith launched a two-run homer to left, his 13th of the season, giving Houston a 6-5 lead. The Astros kept the pressure on. Jeremy Peña singled, and after an intentional walk to Alvarez, Paredes walked to load the bases. Altuve delivered another single off the glove of third baseman Miguel Vargas, scoring Peña for a 7-5 advantage. Wade walked to force in Alvarez, making it 8-5. Walker struck out to end the inning, but Houston had seized control.

Houston added an insurance run in the ninth. Taylor Trammell was hit by a pitch and later scored on a ground-rule double by Christian Vázquez, stretching the lead to 9-5.

Chicago had jumped ahead early. In the first inning, Sam Antonacci singled, Munetaka Murakami walked and Miguel Vargas walked to load the bases. Colson Montgomery’s sacrifice fly brought home Antonacci. Braden Montgomery singled to score Murakami, and after a hit-by-pitch to Tristan Peters, Chase Meidroth was hit by a pitch to force in Vargas for a 3-0 lead.

The White Sox extended their lead in the fifth. Andrew Benintendi walked, Braden Montgomery singled and Tristan Peters popped out. Meidroth doubled to center, scoring Montgomery for a 4-0 lead. A flyout and a sharp lineout ended the inning with Chicago ahead 5-0.

Houston’s offense had been stifled through five innings. The Astros managed only four hits against White Sox starter Davis Martin, who worked five scoreless innings. But the bullpen could not contain the rally. Reliever Bryan Hudson, who took the loss, allowed six earned runs in the sixth. Hudson fell to 3-3.

Astros right-hander Kai-Wei Teng earned the victory, working two innings of relief and allowing two earned runs on two hits while striking out one. Teng improved to 5-6. Houston’s bullpen combined for six innings of two-run ball. Bryan Abreu tossed a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts. Josh Hader struck out two in a perfect eighth, and Steven Okert, AJ Blubaugh and Bennett Sousa each contributed scoreless frames.

Key performers for Houston included Altuve, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI; Peña, who had three hits in six at-bats; Smith, who drove in two runs with his homer; and Walker, whose double plated three runs. Paredes went 0-for-3 but reached base twice on a hit-by-pitch and a walk. For Chicago, Meidroth doubled and drove in a run, and Braden Montgomery had two hits.

The game drew an announced crowd of 28,657 and lasted 3 hours, 18 minutes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Chicago White Sox 7, Houston Astros 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave the White Sox a 50.90 percent probability to win. Chicago was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total of 14 runs went under the over-under line of 8.5.