HOUSTON _ Astros ace Justin Verlander dominated the White Sox for much of the night in the opener of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park, just as he has for the last nine years.
Verlander came in with an 18-4 record against the Sox from 2009 on, mostly while pitching for the Tigers.
But after Verlander was gone, the Astros bounced back from a one-run deficit in the ninth to win 4-3 before 34,955.
George Springer tied the game with an RBI single off closer Joakim Soria, and after Jose Altuve struck out with the bases loaded, Yuli Gurriel singled to drive in Marwin Gonzalez with the winning run.
Leury Garcia's eighth-inning home run had given the Sox the lead, before it all fell apart in the ninth.
Sox starter Carlos Rodon left with a no-decision after six strong innings in his sixth start since returning from rehab after shoulder surgery. It was his longest outing at 109 pitches.
Rodon allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts, though he did walk six. He's now allowed two earned runs in four of his six starts.
Rodon and Verlander engaged in a scoreless duel going into the fifth before Alex Bregman doubled and Altuve crushed a two-run home run over the train tracks above left field.
But the Sox tied it off Verlander the next inning on a solo homer by Omar Narvaez and a game-tying RBI double by Yolmer Sanchez.
Verlander struck out 10 with no walks over seven innings before giving way to Chris Devenski, who served up a one-out homer to Garcia to give the Sox their first lead.
Juan Minaya, Xaiver Cedeno and Bruce Rondon got the Sox through the eighth, with Rondon striking out Tyler White with the tying run on second.
Soria came on in the ninth with 15 straight scoreless outings under his belt, but gave up a leadoff walk and a single to Gonzalez to ignite the Astros rally.
