Astros news: Joe Espada gives flowers to 'our franchise' Jose Altuve

The Houston Astros entered the playoffs with the worst record from a division winner in MLB history. Houston failed to clinch a winning record in the regular season. But they had a chance to make right with a postseason upset over the Chicago White Sox .

This did not come to pass. The White Sox eliminated the Astros on Wednesday , defeating Houston in a two-game sweep. After the game, Astros manager Joe Espada was reflective, expressing his respect for franchise icon Jose Altuve .

"He is our franchise. You expected him to do something special in a game like today. He always finds ways to get our crowd going, get our team going. Just watching him play for so many years, it's incredible. I admire how he goes about it," Espada said, via MLB Network.

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The White Sox raced out to a 4-0 lead in this game. However, Houston didn't go away quietly. The Astros fought back and eventually came within one run in the fourth inning. Altuve hit a home run to make it a 4-3 game in that frame.

Houston was not able to claw all the way back, though. The White Sox added three runs off the bat of Chase Meidroth in the seventh inning. That home run was the decisive blow, sending the White Sox to the ALDS.

Espada's future with the Astros is in doubt. Houston has had a long track record of success in the American League. They won the World Series in 2017 and 2022 while being a regular participant in the ALCS. Now, the team is on the decline, and a shakeup in the dugout is possible.