White Sox must consider the extent of their 120-game losing record

SAN DIEGO – The Chicago White Sox were leading 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday, then history struck.

That slim lead was gone in four San Diego Padres batters, and the White Sox suffered their 120th loss, tying the post-1900 record set by the New York Mets in the 1962 expansion.

The dichotomy could not have been greater.

The White Sox headed to a dark clubhouse and quietly packed their bags for their flight home.

The Padres, who are closing in on a playoff spot, gathered outside their dugout to cheer on the sellout crowd of 45,197 that roared through the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth for a 4-2 victory in the final home game of the regular season on a brilliant opening day of the fall. Some fans even chanted “Beat LA!” in anticipation of a huge series that begins Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I guess when you lose 120 it’s easier to ignore it, but it’s tough to go through it, but that’s where we’re at,” veteran Andrew Benintendi said.

The White Sox had hoped to at least delay this historic loss until there were no more. Right-hander Sean Burke, making only his second major league start — and third appearance — was outstanding for six innings. The White Sox took the lead on two home runs off Yu Darvish, including one by Korey Lee, who grew up in northern San Diego County.

“Burke had a hell of a game,” Benintendi said. “They’ve got a lot of good at-bats throughout the lineup, guys that have been playing for a long time and once they get an edge with that bullpen, it looks like it’s pretty much over at this point.”

“So yes, it (stinks).”

Many of their losses came late in the game.

“Yeah, we joke about it all the time. We never feel like we’re getting crushed and in the seventh, eighth, ninth innings, we’re playing their guys seven, eight, nine innings every night, which is huge. It’s tough to score runs out of the back of the bullpen,” Benintendi said.

“It seems like we’ve been through this situation many times before and it’s never worked.”

With one more loss in their last six games, the White Sox hold the current record. They finish with three home losses to the Los Angeles Angels starting Tuesday night and three losses to Detroit, which is in the running for the American League wild card.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the major league losing record at 20-134.

Interim manager Grady Sizemore did not address the team afterward.

“Not losing is good,” he said. “It’s not something we’re focused on. I think everybody outside of this locker room is more focused on that than we are. Our mindset is to put this loss behind us and get ready for the series at home.”

Asked how his players handled the situation, Sizemore said: “We all know the situation. We know where we are. We have work to do and they are always playing for something. They handled it like professionals and we will be back on Tuesday ready to play and give our best.”

Said Lee: “I think if you ask all 50 guys (who have been on the roster this season) we’re not going to be happy about it. If you’re happy about it, I don’t know what you’re doing here.”

“I think it’s obviously tough, but at the same time, everyone comes here every day and gives their best.”

The receiver said the team remained united despite all the defeats.

“It shows how close we are. We talked about it earlier today. Honestly, that’s what I look forward to every day when I come here, is having the guy right next to me and knowing that he’s going to take care of me, inside and out, on and off the field.

“That’s all you can ask for. We’re surrounded by a good family. Of course, there are a lot of bad moments, but you have to make the best of every day. And the best part is coming here with this group of guys and doing what we all love to do.”

The White Sox tied the American League record of 119 losses set by the Detroit Tigers in 2003 on Saturday night. They had already lost their 20th straight road series and were swept for the 24th time this season.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb