White Sox Skid Continues: 9th Straight Loss Ties 1970 Record with 106 Losses

In a recent matchup, the New York Mets secured a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox, with Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker hitting back-to-back home runs in the first inning. This loss marked the White Sox’s 106th defeat of the season, tying a franchise record.

The White Sox, now sitting at 31-106, have endured a dismal streak, losing nine consecutive games. This recent downturn ties them with their 1970 season for the most losses in franchise history. Since returning from the All-Star break, the team has struggled significantly, recording just four wins against 35 losses and eyeing the potential to break the modern major league record of 120 losses set by the 1962 expansion Mets.

Statistical insights reveal that the White Sox’s winning percentage currently stands at a meager .226, putting them on track to finish with the worst winning percentage in American League history. This would surpass the record set by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, who finished with a .235 winning percentage.

White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore reflected on the team’s struggles, noting, “A lot of things have been going against us. We need that break just to kind of help the morale in that clubhouse.”

On the other hand, the Mets are enjoying a successful streak, winning three straight games and positioning themselves just two games behind Atlanta for the final National League wild card spot. With this victory, New York has won eight of their last 12 games and raised their record to eight games over .500 for the first time this season.

Alonso’s two-run home run off Davis Martin marked his 30th homer of the season, a feat he has accomplished in five out of his six major league seasons, all with the Mets. Despite a shortened season in 2020, where he hit 16 home runs in 57 games, Alonso remains a vital contributor to the Mets’ lineup.

At just 29 years old, Alonso stands third on the Mets’ all-time home run list with a total of 222 homers. Following his strong performance, Winker also added to the offensive effort, recording three hits and two RBIs for the second consecutive game. Alonso complemented Winker’s performance by contributing a single and scoring two runs.

For Chicago, Andrew Benintendi made a notable impact with two hits, while teammates Gavin Sheets, Miguel Vargas, and Corey Julks each drove in runs. Despite the loss, there were moments of promise in the White Sox’s offensive showing.

In the ninth inning, Jose Butto stepped in to finish the game for the Mets, taking the place of closer Edwin Diaz. Butto faced a challenging situation, allowing a double from Vargas and singles from Jacob Amaya and Luis Robert Jr. Although he surrendered one run, Butto managed to secure the win by retiring Benintendi on a comebacker, marking his third save of the season.

Sizemore expressed pride in his team’s resilience, stating, “They are not quitting. They are not folding. But it would be nice to have some of those balls fall, to get some bleeders or something.”

This game showcased the stark contrast between the two teams, with the Mets climbing the standings and the White Sox struggling to find any momentum as the season draws to a close.

Source: The Associated Press