The Chicago White Sox have had a historically bad season, but they managed to avoid further infamy on Tuesday night with a 5-1 victory over the Oakland A’s.
This win ended a 21-game losing streak, tying the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the longest in American League history.
Although they didn’t break the record, the White Sox also avoided matching or surpassing the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who hold the modern-day MLB record with a 23-game losing streak. However, with 46 games left in the season, they still have a chance to start a new streak.
For now, this chapter of White Sox misery has come to an end. This victory marks their first win since July 10 and their first in 18 games since the All-Star break.
A’s pitcher provides surprising perspective on White Sox losing streak
After being the losing pitcher in the game, Ross Stripling of the A’s shared some amusing perspective, noting that the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump took place between the White Sox’s last win and the game on Tuesday.
The White Sox took the lead with a two-run home run by Andrew Benintendi in the fourth inning. They added three more runs to secure the win, with solid pitching and defense holding off the A’s.
Starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon was a standout performer for the White Sox, pitching six strong innings and allowing only one earned run. Relievers Dominic Leone, Chad Kuhl, and John Brebbia each contributed a shutout inning to seal the victory.
Can White Sox avoid further embarrassment?
Despite the win, the White Sox are still on track for one of the worst seasons in baseball history. With a record of 28-88, they are far behind in the AL Central and have a significant run differential.
They will need to improve significantly in the remaining games to avoid joining the ranks of the worst teams in MLB history. The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics hold the record for the worst win percentage in the modern era, while the 1962 New York Mets have the most single-season losses.