One team’s run of futility will become a record on Thursday afternoon when the Los Angeles Angels and White Sox square off in Chicago.
On one hand is Los Angeles (63-95), which has dropped a pair of one-run decisions to begin this three-game series to tie the franchise record for losses in a season. The club lost 95 games in 1968 and 1980.
On the other hand is Chicago (38-120), which again staved off writing its name in MLB’s modern-day record books with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings on Wednesday. The White Sox remained tied with the expansion 1962 New York Mets for the most single-season losses in the majors since 1901.
Chicago will head to Detroit after the series finale on Thursday to end the season with a three-game set against the Tigers.
Andrew Benintendi followed his go-ahead single in the eighth inning of the White Sox’s 3-2 win on Tuesday with an RBI single in the 10th of a 4-3 victory on Wednesday. For his efforts, Benintendi was doused by his teammates.
“It feels good to get the win, but it (stinks) to get it poured on you, especially when it’s starting to cool down a little bit,” Benintendi said. “I was trying to run away a little bit. No, it’s exciting. I mean, you want that poured on you even though deep down you’re kinda trying to avoid it. It’s hard to avoid.”
The White Sox avoided another setback in a lost season, much to the pleasure of interim manager Grady Sizemore.
“We’re not going to let anything rattle us,” Sizemore said. “We’re going out there and trying to compete and do the best we can to get a win.”
Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson (10-14, 3.70 ERA) will look to snap a five-game winless streak on Thursday when he faces White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen (2-15, 5.15).
Anderson fell to 0-3 in that stretch after allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits — including two homers — in a season-low 2 2/3 innings of a 9-7 setback to the Houston Astros on Friday.
Anderson followed his selection for the All-Star Game in July by seeing the bottom fall out on his once-promising season.
“That’s baseball sometimes,” he said Wednesday, per the Los Angeles Daily News. “I feel like in the second half, my command wasn’t as good. Got away from some stuff. Just battling some more stuff than the first half.”
Anderson, 34, is 0-1 with an 8.56 ERA in three career appearances (all starts) against the White Sox.
Flexen, meanwhile, lost his 12th straight decision on Saturday. He yielded four runs on eight hits — including two homers — in five innings of a 6-2 setback against the San Diego Padres. He last won on May 8 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Flexen, 30, is 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against the Angels.
