Davis Martin pitched a gem, but the offense arrived too late
The White Sox fell, 5-1, in the series opener
The White Sox fell to the Mariners, extending their losing streak to five. In a game where Davis Martin deserved a win, the offense couldn’t help until the ninth, and it was too late at that point.
Martin dominated early on with an eight-pitch first inning, and 21 pitches through two. Matt Thaiss singled with one out, but was stranded in the first. Joshua Palacios doubled to start the bottom of the second, and like Thaiss, never advanced.
Ben Williamson singled with two outs in the third, and JP Crawford followed with a single. Not to be outdone, Jorge Polanco knocked in a runner to put the Mariners on the board, but Martin escaped a first-and-third jam when Chase Meidroth scooped up the ball for the final out.
The fourth was quiet for both teams, with each team being retired in order.
Leody Taveras reached on a throwing error by baseman Miguel Vargas to start the fifth. With a stroke of luck, Will Venable challenged a safe call when Taveras stole second. The call was overturned, giving the White Sox two outs and no baserunners ahead of a ground out to end the inning.
Martin had another spectacular inning, with only nine pitches in the sixth, and he snagged the first out. If only his teammates could help with a few runs. Oh well.
With 79 pitches into the seventh, Martin gave up his first walk of the game, to Rowdy Tellez. The next play was a pop up to end the inning, as Martin walked off the mound having reached the longest outing of his career. He pitched into the eighth before being pulled at 92 pitches for Cam Booser to face Crawford.
Booser did not absorb any magic Martin may have left on the mound, walking Crawford and loading the bases after Mitch Garver singled. Unfortunately for the White Sox, and especially Martin’s incredible outing, Julio Rodríguez hit his eighth home run of the season, a grand slam. Booser got Cal Raleigh to strike out swinging for the second out, but was pulled right after. Yoendrys Gómez closed out the inning by taking Randy Arozarena down on strikes.
Up 5-0 and in for a junk outing to finish off the game, Troy Taylor got a little wily on the mound and gave up back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the ninth. Luis Robert Jr. woke up and loaded the bases with a one-out single, as Rodríguez’s diving catch attempt failed. Palacios was the second out, with a fly out to Arozarena, but then Vaughn had a bloop single, sending Meidroth home, and suddenly it was no longer a shutout!
Alas, Michael A. Taylor struck out with the bases loaded, ending the game.
Futility Watch
White Sox 2025 Record 14-34, tied for worst start in White Sox history and tied for the 41st-worst start in baseball history. A 14-34 record projects to 47-115 over a full season. A year ago, the record-breaking White Sox also were 14-34.
All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,254 games) 9,608-9,646 (.4990). It’s been 92 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record.
Record Since the New Pope Was Revealed as a White Sox Fan 4-6
- Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2024 White Sox, 41-121)
- Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120-1, finished three percentage points worse than the 2024 White Sox)
- Race to the Most White Sox Losses (2024, 121)
- Race to the Worst White Sox Record (2024, 41-121)
6 games better, in all cases
Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 9 games better