The White Sox win for the third time in a row, the Angels set a franchise record for losses in a season

There’s something about nearly setting an infamous record — like the most losses ever in a Major League Baseball season — that can strengthen a team’s resolve. Even a terrible one like the Chicago White Sox.

Since drawing 120 losses against the New York Mets in 1962, the White Sox have been unbeatable. They won their third straight game on Thursday, defeating the Los Angeles Angels 7-0.

No, this is not the White Sox’ longest winning streak this season. But it is the fourth time this year that they have strung together so many wins. Chicago won four straight games from May 8-11, beating the Tampa Bay Rays on the road before winning three straight games at home against the Cleveland Guardians.

(The 2003 Detroit Tigers, after losing their 119th game of the season, won their last two to avoid infamy.)

White Sox fans hoping to see their team tie the MLB all-time losing record missed their last opportunity to do so at Guaranteed Rate Field as Chicago ends its season with a three-game series in Detroit. Given the way the Tigers are playing — they won eight of their last 10 games and went 16-6 in the AL wild-card playoffs in September — the White Sox are likely to take that record loss this weekend.

Chicago opened the game in the fifth inning with two-run singles from Andrew Vaughn and Lenyn Sosa, followed by RBI hits from Bryan Ramos, Zach DeLoach and Dominic Fletcher to build a seven-run lead. Vaughn, the White Sox’s best hitter this year, hit 3 of 4 and leads the lineup with 67 RBI.

Starting pitcher Chris Flexen easily maintained that lead, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing five hits with seven strikeouts. That performance and generous running support gave the seven-year veteran his third win of the season.

With their loss, the Angels set a franchise record for most losses in a season with their 96th. Members of the 1968 and 1990 Angels can treat themselves to some champagne because they no longer have to bear the burden of being the standard-bearers for team ineptitude.

Angels starter Tyler Anderson gave up five runs (four earned) and four hits in 4 1/3 innings with three walks and two strikeouts in the loss.

The Angels have lost 11 of their last 14 games. Without the White Sox, they would be the worst team in the American League. Yet a historically bad Chicago team still has 23 more losses this season.