Last night, the Chicago White Sox lost their 120th game of the season, tying the record set by the New York Mets in 1962:
With their fifth consecutive defeat and 23rd in the last 28 games, the Sox fell to 36-120 to tie the expansion 1962 Mets’ record for most losses in the modern era and break the 2003 Tigers’ AL-record 119 losses.
Rookie right-hander Sean Burke pitched six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts, and Korey Lee also homered to give Burke a 2-1 lead, but the Padres (90-66) rallied for three runs against relievers Prelander Berroa and Fraser Ellard in the eighth inning.
It was the Sox’ majors-worst 36th blown save and 48th bullpen loss.
After a day off Monday, the Sox play the Angels in a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field before finishing the season with three games next weekend at the surging Tigers, needing to win them all to avoid having the record to themselves, an impossible task for a team that hasn’t won more than four in a row.
The Sox have been swept 24 times. They also tied the AL record with a 21-game skid this season.
I don't have the mental space right now to calculate the odds that the Sox will win all six of their remaining games. I've only got a few hours left in Aix before heading to Marseille, then back home tomorrow morning. At least the Sox won't break the record until I get back. But I have faith they can do it before Sunday!