The Chicago White Sox's woes continued on Sunday with a 13-7 loss to the Minnesota Twins. This defeat marks the 20th consecutive loss for the White Sox, the longest losing streak currently in Major League Baseball and the seventh instance in modern MLB history where a franchise has endured such a prolonged skid.
Sunday's game at Target Field quickly slipped away from the White Sox. Minnesota jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and then broke the game wide open with an explosive second inning, ending the frame ahead 8-0. Notably, Royce Lewis delivered a three-run home run to further pad the Twins' lead, ensuring the White Sox were left chasing the game from early on.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, there were moments of offensive life for the White Sox, who managed to cross the plate seven times—an improvement over their recent performances. This was the first instance during their current losing streak that the team scored more than five runs in a game. However, even with this uptick in scoring, the White Sox have been outscored by a staggering margin of 131-48 over the course of this 20-game skid.
Historical Struggles
The team’s current plight is reminiscent of some of the most prolonged slumps in MLB history. Only three more losses would see the club tie the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies' record for consecutive defeats, which stands at 23. Comparatively, other franchises that have experienced 20-game losing streaks include the 1988 Baltimore Orioles and the 1969 Montreal Expos, underscoring the rarity and severity of the White Sox's current performance issues.
With a season record of 27-87, the White Sox are projected to finish with a catastrophic 124 losses should their current pace continue, potentially making history for all the wrong reasons. The only team in modern MLB history to lose more games in a single season is the 1962 New York Mets, who finished with 120 losses. In the post-World War II era, only the 2003 Detroit Tigers and the 2018 Baltimore Orioles have endured more than 115 losses in a season, indicating the depths of the White Sox's struggles this year.
A Season of Tough Breaks
This isn't the first long losing streak for the White Sox this season. Earlier in the year, from May 22 to June 6, the team experienced a 14-game losing streak, which is tied for the 38th longest in MLB history. Such protracted periods of poor performance have understandably left the team and its supporters desperate for any signs of hope.
As they prepare to face the Oakland Athletics on Monday, the White Sox are clinging to the hope of snapping this unprecedented streak. The team and its fan base are eager for a turnaround, even if just to salvage a modicum of pride in an otherwise dismal season.
Throughout this agonizing stretch, the White Sox have displayed brief flashes of potential, but inconsistencies both offensively and defensively have repeatedly undone their efforts. Sunday's game encapsulated much of the team’s recent issues: an anemic start, occasional surges of offensive activity, and an ultimately insufficient push to overcome their deficit.
With the season winding down, the White Sox's chances of avoiding historical ignominy hinge on finding some semblance of form in their remaining games. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the team can end this spiral, or if they will cement their place in the annals of MLB's most infamous slumps.