The White Sox lose to the Tigers and suffer their MLB record 121st defeat of the season

DETROIT – They could only avoid it for so long.

After a mini-winning streak that became history for a few days, the Chicago White Sox finally suffered their 121st loss of the year, the worst defeat by a team in a season in modern MLB history.

The record was set Friday night in a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

“I think the frustration was long before the numbers,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said afterwards. “Again, I think it’s one of those things where you’re still not happy, but I don’t know if I would feel any different if we were at 115 or 110. It’s still a frustrating year.”

In front of a sellout Comerica crowd, the Tigers secured a postseason berth for the first time since 2014. Detroit won for the 39th time since the All-Star break, the same record as the White Sox all season.

“Obviously it sucks,” said Garrett Crochet, who started for the White Sox and did not make a decision Friday. “We put ourselves in this position early on. We had a bad April. We just never fought our way out of that hole. We are where we are because of how we played, which sucks.”

Chicago’s record losing season included a 21-game losing streak and two separate 14-game losing streaks. They began the year 1–9 and by May 1st they were 14.5 games out of first place with a run differential of minus-84. By June 1st they were 13.5 games out of fourth place in the AL Central .

“It’s been an extremely difficult year for everyone,” outfielder Gavin Sheets said. “It was mentally and physically tough. I’m sorry that everyone in this room is a part of this. Seeing Detroit celebrate was just four years ago. It’s frustrating. It doesn’t feel good.”

The White Sox’s fall was steep. In 2021, they won 93 games and captured an AL Central Division title – but then the decline began.

They finished 2022 with a .500 record, following a 101-loss season last season. After a difficult start this year, the team traded away starter Erick Fedde, closer Michael Kopech and veteran hitter Tommy Pham in July.

Things only got worse. The White Sox lost their first 17 games after the All-Star break, part of that AL-record 21-game losing streak.

“It doesn’t sit well with either of us,” Sheets said. “But unfortunately that’s where we are right now. It is the job of everyone in this room to ensure that we move forward and that this never happens again.”

The White Sox tied the 1962 Mets for the most losses in a season last weekend when they were swept by the Padres, but they won their last three home games before Friday’s historic loss to the Tigers. These victories provided a glimmer of hope that the White Sox might not hold the record, but they had to beat the Tigers to prevent that. It didn’t happen.

Sheets was asked how he felt when Detroit secured the Finals.

“I didn’t know how I was going to feel about it,” Sheets said. “All the time, the difference between 120 and 121 is neither a better season nor a greater success. … After winning three in a row, we thought maybe we could do something special and stick it out and win six in a row, and you start to believe it and think maybe it won’t happen.

“And suddenly, the last time, you realize that you are on the wrong side of history. It hurt a little more than I expected.”

Crochet struck out six in his final game of the year, but relievers Jared Shuster and Fraser Ellard gave up runs in the fifth and seventh innings to secure their 121st loss. Crochet was a bright spot for Chicago, finishing the season with the highest strikeout rate (12.9) per nine innings pitched of any player in baseball. But his use was limited as he was a starter in his first year and the team simply didn’t have enough behind him.

The team also struggled at the plate. The White Sox rank last in runs scored and have the third-highest ERA in baseball. They also played poor baseball, leading to the firing of former manager Pedro Grifol last month.

A dismal clubhouse tried to find the positives in a miserable season.

“Everyone in this room knows we’re going to be together for a while,” Sheets said. “We are a young group. It’s not like guys are looking ahead to the next phase of their careers. Everyone is trying to come together in this room and support each other.”

“There is not much support outside of this space. So we come together and rely on our staff and coaches and everyone around us and support each other.”

Sizemore echoed Sheets’ message. The former Cleveland outfielder is in the running for the permanent job, but that wasn’t on his mind after Friday’s loss.

“We’re just focused on ourselves and getting better, and we know we can still improve a lot,” he said. “But I think we have the right people and the right personnel to get this under control.”