OAKLAND, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game, tying the American League record with a 5-1 defeat to the Oakland Athletics on Monday night as Max Schuemann hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fourth inning.
Chicago is on the longest losing streak since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles lost 21 in a row. The NL record since 1900 is held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight.
The major league low belongs to the 1889 Louisville Colonels, an American Association team that lost 26 consecutive games during a 27-111 season.
“We talk about it every day,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said of the streak. “Everybody knows what it is. It’s 21 in a row. It sucks. It’s not fun. It’s painful. It hurts. You name it. However, you want to describe it. It’s not for lack of effort. Nobody wants to come out here and lose, so we’ve just got to put a good game together and put this behind us.”
Chicago, which last won on July 10 in a doubleheader opener against Minnesota, dropped to 27-88 and is on pace to finish 38-124, which would be the most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League went 20-134. The White Sox have been held to one run or none 32 times.
“You just try to turn the page,” outfielder Corey Julks said. “Look forward to the next day, bounce back, don’t dwell on the loss, just try to learn from them and get better each day. … We’re just trying to rally as a team and find a way to get a win.”
Tyler Nevin’s first-inning sacrifice fly put the A’s ahead, but Andrew Benintendi tied the score with an RBI single against JP Sears (9-8) in the fourth.
JJ Bleday doubled in the bottom half off Ky Bush (0-1), a 24-year-old left-hander making his big league debut. Zack Gelof walked and Darell Hernaiz was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Schuemann grounded a single between shortstop and third that bounced into left for a 3-1 lead.
Lawrence Butler hit a sixth-inning homer against Chad Kuhl, his 13th home run this season.
Gelof added a run in the eighth when he sprinted home from first after Jared Shuster’s pitch bounced away from catcher Korey Lee as Schuemann struck out. Lee looked toward Gelof at third and threw to first baseman Andrew Vaughn for the out, and Gelof ran home as Vaughn’s throw skipped past Lee.
“Our whole plan coming into this series was to continue our focus, focus on the details of the game, play the game the way we know we’re capable of, and we did that tonight,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said.
Sears allowed three hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and a walk, improving to 5-1 in his last six decisions.
“I thought his outing was great,” Kotsay said. “Five strikeouts, just one earned run. He managed the game great.”
Austin Adams and Tyler Ferguson finished a four-hitter that took just 2 hours, 15 minutes, and included eight overall hits.
Bush allowed three runs, two hits and five walks over four innings with three strikeouts. He played college baseball at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.
“Got the first one out of the way,” Bush said. “Obviously, a little amped up. But happy to debut and just be here.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Dominic Leone (right elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. RHP Prelander Berroa and LHP Sammy Peralta were optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.
Athletics: RHP Mason Miller (fractured left pinky finger) threw batting practice and could return from the 10-day IL as soon as Wednesday, according to manager Mark Kotsay.
UP NEXT
White Sox rookie RHP Jonathan Cannon (1-5, 4.11 ERA) will start Tuesday night opposite A’s RHP Ross Stripling (2-10, 5.64).
The Chicago White Sox made history on Thursday night, tying an American League record with their 21st consecutive loss. The team’s losing streak, which began on August 1st, has been a painful stretch for both players and fans alike.
The White Sox’s streak ties them with the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the longest losing streak in American League history. The team’s struggles have been evident in all aspects of the game, from pitching to hitting to fielding. Injuries and underperformance have plagued the team throughout the season, leading to their current position at the bottom of the AL Central standings.
Despite the disappointing results, the White Sox have shown resilience and determination throughout their losing streak. Manager Tony La Russa has remained positive and focused on helping his players improve and learn from their mistakes. The team’s young core of talent, including stars like Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada, have continued to show flashes of potential despite the losses.
While the White Sox’s losing streak is certainly a low point for the team and its fans, it is important to remember that every team goes through rough patches. The key now is for the White Sox to regroup, refocus, and work towards turning things around. With a talented roster and a dedicated coaching staff, there is hope that the team can bounce back and finish the season on a positive note.
As the White Sox continue to battle through their losing streak, fans can take solace in knowing that this difficult stretch will only make the team stronger in the long run. With perseverance and determination, the White Sox have the potential to overcome this adversity and come out stronger on the other side.