The 2024 White Sox have now lost more games in a single season than any team before then, but the way they lost should serve as a reminder that they will not rest on their laurels.
At least when it comes to losing. If you're talking about general inaction, then those laurels won't be going anywhere.
The White Sox surpassed the 1970 team by losing their 107th game of the season, but they added to some other ignominious categories along the way. They were shut out for the 15th time this season, and by going 0-10 on the homestand, they suffered their third winless homestand of six or more games, as well as their third losing streak of 10 games or more. The 1965 Mets are their only company in that regard, losing 10, 10 and 11 games en route to a 50-112-2 season.
Sean Manaea, Reed Garrett and Edwin Díaz held the Sox to two singles, two walks and one HBP over nine innings, and two of those runners were erased on the basepaths. Lenyn Sosa, who walked to give the Sox their first baserunner with two outs in the fourth, was picked off by Manaea for his daily mistake:
In the seventh, Luis Robert Jr. was plunked to lead off, but Luis Torrens thwarted his stolen-base attempt that would've put a runner in scoring position. That turned out to be the wrong inning to lose a runner, because Andrew Vaughn walked with two outs, and Gavin Sheets followed with the second and last single that put runners on the corners. Miguel Vargas, who had the only other hit on the afternoon, flied out to left.
The lack of offense wasted an overwhelming pitching performance led by Garrett Crochet, who struck out the first seven batters he faced. Prelander Berroa joined him with five strikeouts over two perfect innings in his best MLB performance to date, and White Sox pitching combined to strike out 16 over nine innings.
Alas, Crochet tried to start Francisco Lindor with a cutter, but it found the middle of the plate, and Lindor got enough of it to send it four rows deep in the left-field bleachers for the only run the Mets needed. They added insurance in the ninth when Justin Anderson walked J.D. Martinez with two outs, then yielded a double off the top of the wall right of center to score pinch-running Pablo Reyes. The run proved unnecessary because Díaz struck out the side on 14 pitches.
Bullet points:
*The White Sox have lost 10, 14 and 21 games in their three double-digit losing streaks. Take that, 1965 Mets.
*The White Sox scored four runs over three games, so those who took the under on Josh's line of six runs on the last podcast, collect your winnings.
*Jared Shuster took a comebacker off his lower leg against the first batter he faced, but shook it off to pick off Starling Marte to start two scoreless innings of his own.
*The White Sox announced during the game that Drew Thorpe will undergo surgery on Sept. 7 to remove a bone spur in his right elbow, but he's expected to be ready without restrictions for spring training.
