White Sox Suffer 20th Consecutive Loss, Fall to Twins 13-7
The Chicago White Sox's woes continued on Sunday as they fell to the Minnesota Twins, 13-7, marking their 20th consecutive loss. This defeat extends what is now the longest losing streak in Major League Baseball this season.
The Twins wasted no time in asserting their dominance, as they quickly jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. By the end of the second inning, Minnesota's lead had ballooned to 8-0, effectively putting the game out of reach. A significant blow came courtesy of Royce Lewis, who smashed a three-run home run, further burying the White Sox in an insurmountable deficit.
Despite the grim outlook, the White Sox managed to show some offensive spark. For the first time during their losing streak, they scored more than five runs in a game. However, this was a small consolation as their pitching and defense crumbled under the weight of the Twins' relentless offense.
Over the course of this 20-game skid, the White Sox have been outscored by their opponents 131-48, translating to an average deficit of four runs per game. Such a prolonged period of poor performance puts the 2023 White Sox in a dire historical context. They are now the seventh team in modern MLB history to endure a 20-game losing streak. Additionally, only three more losses would see them tied with the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies for the infamous record of 23 consecutive defeats.
These current struggles are not isolated incidents this season. Earlier in the year, the White Sox experienced a 14-game losing streak from May 22 until June 6, which stands tied for the 38th longest in the history of Major League Baseball.
With their current season record standing at a dismal 27-87, the White Sox are on pace to end the year with 124 losses. This would position them second in modern MLB history for the most losses in a season, trailing only the 1962 New York Mets, who lost 120 games. Since World War II, only two other teams, the 2003 Detroit Tigers and the 2018 Baltimore Orioles, have lost more than 115 games in a single season.
As the White Sox prepare to face the Oakland Athletics on Monday, both the team and their fans are desperate for a victory to halt this historic losing streak. The Athletics will certainly not make it easy for the White Sox, but a win could serve as a much-needed morale boost for a team that has struggled mightily throughout the year.
While the Chicago White Sox look to find a way to turn their season around in the remaining games, their current journey has already cemented a place in the annals of MLB history for all the wrong reasons. The team’s performance has left fans and analysts alike searching for answers and hoping for brighter days ahead.