White Sox lose No. 104, 2-1 to Texas
A surprise fine pitching performance goes for naught
First, the good news — Nick Nastrini was a shadow of his former self. Shadow being a good thing in this case.
The righty who’d been hyped so much when he came from the Dodgers at the 2023 trade deadline had been an overall disaster during two other brief sojourns with the Sox early this season, mainly because he issued a walk an inning. Today, though, he just walked one in six innings, throwing 62 of 98 pitches for strikes (true, he would have walked Aroldis García every time if García hadn’t insisted at swinging at pitches anywhere between first and third arriving on fewer than three bounces, but everyone needs a little help from their friends).
Nastrini struck out only three, but gave up very little hard contact. The one exception to that, though, was a slider in the fourth inning that caught too much of the plate on an 0-2 count to Corey Seager (we don’t usually do video of opponents’ successes, but this was Seager’s 200th career blast, a feat never before accomplished by a left-handed-hitting shortstop, so it’s only fair to let you see it).
In the seventh, taking advantage of the White Sox bullpen and a terrible fielding decision by Lenyn Sosa, who cut in front of Nicky Lopez to fail to make a play, Texas scratched out a second run on two hits and a slow roller to third.
Two runs are a mountain for the Sox, especially against a pitcher as good as Nathan Eovaldi, who only allowed a scratch single by Gavin Sheets and two walks in seven innings, while striking out 10, including Lopez three times. That was ironic, because Nicky had previously owned Eovaldi.
The Sox got another weak single, a blooper by Dominic Fletcher, in the eighth. He was wild-pitched by David Robertson to both second and third, becoming the only White Sox runner in scoring position on the day. Then Lopez lashed a shot to short, at which point Seager showed he could make it by the seat of his pants.
In case you’re wondering, “Why can’t we get a guy like that?” please remember Seager has a $325 million contract, so Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn’t even pay for the pants.
In the ninth, the Rangers showed why they’re not exactly going to make the World Series again, as they tried to play the role of gracious visitors. With one out, closer Kirby Yates got Andrew Benintendi to pop up foul, but third baseman Josh Jung just let the ball land, for no apparent reason. Benintendi then did what you’re supposed to do when handed a gift, and expressed his appreciation.
That made it a 2-1 game, but Andrew Vaughn whiffed on a bad 3-2 pitch and Sheets rolled out to second, and that was that.
The Rangers only scored nine runs in the three-game series, but that’s more than enough against the White Sox, who also got swept for the year by Texas, 7-zip. The Sox, losers of eight straight and now just two games from their third double-figure losing streak of the season, now await the Mets to see how long it will take to get to loss 105.
Futility Watch
White Sox 2024 Record 31-104, worst 135-game start in White Sox history (12 games worse than the next-worst, 1932 White Sox), second-worst MLB start all-time and a season-worst 73 games below .500
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -283, 14th-worst 135-game start in MLB history and a 2024 season worst
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 37-125 (.230)
All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2024) 9,584-9,595 (.4997)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 6 games worse; need to finish 13-14 to end season 44-118
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 4 games worse; need to finish 10-17 to end season 41-121
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 19 games worse; need to finish season 26-1 to end season with 105 losses
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 15 1⁄2 games worse; need to finish season 22-5 to end season 53-109
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 1 game worse; need to finish season 8-19 to finish 39-123
*record adjusted to a 162-game season