White Sox sweep Angels, keep history on hold as they head to Detroit

CHICAGO — Since Sunday in San Diego, the Chicago White Sox have sat on the precipice of making the wrong kind of history. But three days later, they continue to buck setting one of baseball’s most dubious records.

The White Sox finished a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 7-0 victory Thursday afternoon, ending their home slate of games for the Major League Baseball regular season on a high note, as they continue to sit one loss away from setting the modern MLB record for losses in a single season — a record they are currently tied for, with the 1962 New York Mets.

“I’m happy it didn’t happen in a way because you know, you don’t want to be known for that,” said Barbara Monaco, who was at the game Thursday. “But I wanted to be here in case it was history. I’m a big baseball fan.”

A big day from Chris Flexen

One could say White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen was “Flexen his muscles” on the mound for the South Siders.

The 6-foot-3-inch-tall righty from Newark, California notched his third win of the year against the Angels on Thursday, where he pitched 6.1 innings of shutout baseball to the tune of five hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.

“I’m so happy for him. When he came off the mound, I told him I just appreciate the passion and the effort he’s put there all year,” said manager Grady Sizemore after the game. “I know the wins and losses haven’t been there and he hasn’t had a lot of good luck but, he competes.”

At the plate, Chicago plated all seven of their runs in the fifth inning, the highest offensive output the White Sox have had in any inning all season.

The inning started with a Dominic Fletcher single to left field. Jacob Amaya hit into a fielder’s choice to short next, but Angels’ Shortstop Jack Lopez bobbled the grounder and everyone was ruled safe.

Miguel Vargas grounded into a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and third with one out, before Luis Robert Jr. worked a walk to load the bases.

Andrew Vaughn followed Robert Jr. with a 2-RBI single to drive in Fletcher and Vargas, then Lenyn Sosa followed Vaughn with a 2-RBI double that scored Robert Jr. and Vaughn.

After a Los Angeles pitching change, Bryan Ramos singled home Sosa, and Zach DeLoach doubled to left to drive in Ramos and make it a 6-0 ballgame.

Chicago’s explosion at the plate was capped by Fletcher’s second hit of the inning, and it was of the exact same variety — an RBI single to left field that scored DeLoach with two outs, to bring the game to its final score, 7-0.

“We kept adding on and kept the pressure on. It’s nice to have those innings where you kind of explode and get some cushion for your pitching staff,” Sizemore said. “It was a fun way to end the series and a fun last home game.”

Up Next

The White Sox will take their 3-game win streak and hop a flight to Detroit for their final series of the regular season, where they will meet a Tigers team that is red hot (30-12 in their last 42 games) and in search of making the postseason for the first time in a decade.

“It’s going to be a fun flight. I think guys are excited after this series and it’s going to be a fun atmosphere there,” Sizemore said. “These guys are playing for the postseason and we’re going there to compete and not make it easy.”

Garrett Crochet (6-12, 3.68 ERA) is slated to start for the White Sox, while Detroit has yet to announce a starting pitcher.

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