Josh Groban performed an overly dramatized version of the National Anthem prior to Game 1 of the World Series.

White Sox starter RHP Jose Contreras quickly retired the Astros first three batters, bringing Houston starter RHP Roger Clemens to the mound. Clemens likewise dealt effectively with Chicago's first two hitters. However, RF-R Jermaine Dye battled with Clemens, taking a strike, three balls, and fouling off four pitches before sending the ninth pitch of his at-bat over the fence and into the bullpen in right field, enabling the White Sox to celebrate their first run of this World Series with the fireworks they customarily set off for home team homers. 1B-R Paul Konerko grounded out to end the inning, sending the game into the second with Chicago leading 1-0.

One out into the top of the second, 1B-L Mike Lamb sent a solo shot soaring into the first row of seats just to the right of the batters' eye in centerfield. With the game now tied at 1, an inside pitch appeared to graze the left shoulder of DH-R Jeff Bagwell, giving the Astros a runner at first. However, RF-R Jason Lane grounded into a double play to end the inning before Houston could break the tie.

Leading off the bottom of the second, DH-S Carl Everett hit a line drive up the middle into shallow centerfield for a single. CF-R Aaron Rowand then hit a grounder into shallow right field for a single that moved Carl Everett to third. Up next, C-L A.J. Pierzynski hit a grounder to Lamb, Lamb looked Carl Everett back to third but then threw to second to get the force on Rowand. Rather than immediately throw home SS-R Adam Everett held the ball while Carl Everett took the opportunity to run home and put the White Sox back in the lead, 2-1. With Pierzynski on second after a 3B-R Joe Crede ground out, SS-R Juan Uribe hit a line drive into deep left centerfield for a double that drove in Pierzynski. Clemens struck out LF-L Scott Podsednik to end the inning, but Houston entered the third down 3-1.

C-R Brad Ausmus led off the top of the third with a line drive single into right field. Adam Everett hit a grounder to Contreras that resulted in a fielders' choice that erased Ausmus from the bases. 2B-R Craig Biggio advanced Everett to second with a soft flyball hit into center for a single. CF-R Willy Taveras then moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Both Everett and Biggio scored when LF-S Lance Berkman knocked a line drive into the right field corner for a double, tying the game at 3. 3B-R Morgan Ensberg grounded out to send the game into the bottom of the third.

LHP Wandy Rodriguez took the mound for the Astros in the bottom of the third, as Clemens left the game after aggravating his hamstring injury. 2B-R Tadahito Iguchi grounded out to open the inning, but Dye worked Rodriguez for a five-pitch base on balls. Konerko moved Dye to second with a line drive single to right field. However, Rodriguez struck out Carl Everett, and Rowand grounded out, stranding the runners.

Contreras pitched a one-two-three fourth, giving Rodriguez little time to relax before returning to the mound. One out into the bottom of the fourth, Crede set off the fireworks with a solo shot hit just over the wall in left-center. Rodriguez then issued a six-pitch walk to Uribe. Podsednik moved Uribe to second with a groundball single up the middle, but Iguchi grounded into a double play before Chicago could increase their 4-3 lead. Contreras needed only seven pitches to retire the side in order in the top of the fifth. In contrast, Rodriguez opened the bottom of the fifth by issuing Dye a four-pitch walk. Konerko advanced Dye to second with a line drive single into centerfield. The runners moved to second and third when Carl Everett bounced a sacrifice bunt down the third baseline. Houston then intentionally walked Rowand to load the bases and bring up Pierzynski. Pierzynski obliged the Astros and hit into a double play to get them out of the jam and the inning.

Taveras opened the top of the sixth with a flyball hit almost to the warning track in left-center for a double. Berkman moved Taveras to third when he grounded out, but Ensberg and Lamb also grounded out leaving Taveras stranded as the game moved to the bottom of the sixth. One out into the bottom of the sixth, Rodriguez issued Uribe a seven-pitch walk, prompting Houston to lift him and send in RHP Chad Qualls. When the game resumed, Podsednik hit a grounder Biggio, which resulted in a fielders' choice that erased Uribe from the bases. Qualls then struck out Iguchi to end the inning.

Leading off the top of the seventh, Bagwell took first after an inside pitch struck his right thigh. Lane popped out to foul territory beyond first base, but then an inside pitch caught Ausmus on the left elbow, giving the Astros runners at first and second. Adam Everett hit a grounder to Uribe, who threw to second to get the force on Ausmus, but the White Sox were unable to turn two. Biggio grounded out to end the inning with the runners stranded at first and third. Liz Phair provided a lifeless rendition of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch.

Dye led off the bottom of the seventh with a grounder to Everett at short and should have been out at first, but Everett's throw bounced in the dirt in front of Lamb's glove, allowing Dye to safely reach first as the ball hopped away. With Konerko at the plate, Dye found himself in a mini-rundown when he took a big lead. Catching Dye almost halfway to second, Qualls ran at him for a moment and then threw to second, Dye darted back to first and slid head first to the outside corner of the bag, slipping his hand onto the edge of the base before Lamb could apply the tag. The runner ultimately didn't hurt Houston as Konerko and Carl Everett flew out, and Qualls struck out Rowand.

After Taveras led off the top of the eighth with a flyball hit to the wall in left-center for a double, Chicago called for LHP Neal Cotts to relieve Contreras. Cotts entered with his curly hair coifed below his cap as though he were auditioning for a shampoo commercial. Berkman smacked a grounder into left field for a single that moved Taveras to third. Cotts then struck out Ensberg and Lamb before the White Sox brought in closer RHP Bobby Jenks to face Bagwell. In conjunction with the pitching change, the Astros sent Chris Burke out to pinch-run for Berkman. I thoroughly disagreed with pinch-running for Berkman as I don't feel the extra speed on the basepaths is worth losing his potential offense later in the game. When play resumed, Jenks' first 99 mph pitch put a look of "I'm getting too old for this…" on Bagwell's face. Bagwell's knees buckled as he fouled off the second such pitch. Jenks' third pitch went high, allowing Burke to steal second without a throw. Ball two hit 100 mph, and while Bagwell managed to foul off another 99 mph pitch, Jenks' next heater blew by him on the outside, ending the inning.

RHP Russ Springer relieved Qualls prior to the bottom of the eighth, and Pierzynsk led off with a groundball single into right field. Two outs later during Podsednik's at-bat, Pierzynski stole second without eliciting a throw. Podsednik then hit a long flyball into deep center for a triple that drove in Pierzynski to bring the score to 5-3. The inning ended with Iguchi flying out to right.

In the top of the ninth, Jenks struck out Lane; Ausmus grounded out; and Adam Everett fell to strikes to give Game 1 to the White Sox.