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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterSep 26, 2024, 06:36 PM ET
- Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
CHICAGO — It took a few days, but the White Sox may have won over their fan base — at least for the moment — in their home finale after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and, in the process, avoiding a record 121st loss of the season.
The White Sox began the series Tuesday to a cascade of boos, and there were chants of “Sell the team” even after they won the first two games vs. the Angels. But fans came around in the finale, a 7-0 win, giving an ovation to starter Chris Flexen when he came off the mound after tossing 6⅓ shutout innings, then again after the final out.
“It was awesome, especially after the last couple of nights, hearing boos after winning a game,” Flexen said afterward. “It’s been tough, but to get that ovation was pretty special.”
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Chicago scored seven runs in the fifth, its highest-scoring inning of the season, to help stave off history. The White Sox are tied with the 1962 Mets for the most losses in a single season in modern day history (since 1900) but finish the year against the red-hot Detroit Tigers this weekend.
They’ll need another sweep to avoid owning the record outright. They’re 39-120 after Thursday’s win.
“It’s going to be a fun atmosphere there,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “Those guys are playing for the postseason and we’re going there to compete and not make it easy.”
Sizemore said he has been wearing the same undershirt all week — though it has been washed — as the wins have piled up. His team completed just its second sweep of the season while delivering the Angels their 96th loss of the year, a franchise record. The sweep comes as the focus on the team has solely been on it setting the record. Media from all over the country descended on Chicago in anticipation of breaking the record Thursday, but the White Sox had other plans.
“It was a fun last home game,” Sizemore said. “I think [the players have] done a great job of separating and not letting all that external stuff get to them. We’ve been playing a lot better lately.”
Chicago is 6-5 over its past 11 games, the best 11-game stretch since May, but it will need another three wins to keep it tied with the Mets for most losses since 1900. The White Sox haven’t won six in a row since May 2022. The team is also 1-9 against the Tigers this year.
At least the White Sox leave their home park with fans cheering instead of booing. It’s not the way the week began.
“Fan support is huge,” first baseman Andrew Vaughn said. “Gives us energy, gives us life.”
Flexen added: “Different feeling today than the last couple days, which was nice.”
