Angels fall in 10th to tie team record with 95th loss
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox avoided a record-breaking 121st loss for the second straight game, beating the Angels 4-3 on Wednesday night on Andrew Benintendi’s 10th-inning single.
Benintendi delivered the go-ahead hit for the second time in as many games when he lined a one-out single to left-center against José Quijada (2-1), scoring designated runner Miguel Vargas from second.
The White Sox emptied a cooler on Benintendi after he came through with another winning hit. On Tuesday, Benintendi had a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning of Chicago’s 3-2 win.
“It feels good to get the win, but it sucks 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.â€
Korey Lee gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second Wednesday night. After Taylor Ward tied it in the fourth with a two-run single, Lenyn Sosa put Chicago back on top with a tiebreaking solo drive off José Suarez in the bottom half.
The Angels had runners on the corners in the seventh against Enyel De Los Santos but came away empty-handed when Kevin Pillar grounded into a double play.
Ron Washington admits it has been frustrating teaching inexperienced Angels how to be major-leaguers, but he is confident his work will pay off.
A sparse crowd was largely quiet until the eighth, when fans started to voice their displeasure with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. They chanted “Sell the team!†and “Jerry sucks!†and the chorus only grew louder.
The Angels loaded the bases with one out before Michael Stefanic laid down a bunt single on a squeeze play, tying it at 3. Taylor Ward then grounded into a double play.
“We know they’re frustrated, but when you’re in that moment you’re just trying to block all that stuff out, all the negative stuff and focus on the game and what you can do to help the team win. We’re professionals,†White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “We’re not going to let anything rattle us. We’re going out there and trying to compete and do the best we can to get a win.â€
The Angels (63-95) matched a franchise record with their 95th loss, a mark shared by the 1968 and 1980 teams. They grounded into three double plays in the final four innings, including one with the bases loaded.
“I don’t know if it was us or if it was them making pitches,†manager Ron Washington said. “But you certainly were looking for the ball to get in the air right there or a base hit. We just couldn’t get it done.â€
White Sox starter Davis Martin gave up two runs and three hits in 3-2/3 innings. The right-hander walked a career-high five and hit a batter before exiting with the bases loaded in the fourth. Michael Soroka came in and gave up Ward’s two-run single, the only hit he gave up over 2-1/3 innings.
Suarez went five innings for the Angels, giving up three runs and five hits.
Chicago had never lost more than 106 prior to this year. The White Sox passed that mark with plenty of time to spare when the Mets beat them on Sept. 1.
Chicago tied the American League record of 119 losses at San Diego on Saturday and matched the ’62 Mets the following day. But with a chance to lose more games than any team since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134, the White Sox put history on hold the last two nights.
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