The Chicago White Sox extended their team-record losing streak to 19 games after giving up Max Kepler’s go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, which helped the Minnesota Twins win 6-2 on Saturday night.
“It can’t go on forever,” White Sox starter Garrett Crochet said. “Showing up to the field every day, we’re expecting to break the streak.”
Chicago’s losing streak is the longest since Baltimore had a 19-game skid in August 2021 and is tied for the seventh-longest since 1901.
The White Sox were held to three hits for the second consecutive night and have been limited to three hits or fewer in 12 games this season. “It’s a lot of pressure,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “You can’t afford to make mistakes.”
Kepler, who came in as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning, hit his seventh home run of the season. The homer to right field off Touki Toussaint (0-1) contributed to the Twins’ 11th win in 12 games against the White Sox this season.
Willi Castro added a two-run single in a three-run eighth inning on the 13th pitch of his at-bat against John Brebbia, and Brooks Lee also had an RBI single.
“There were some big moments in this game, but the Willi Castro at-bat, it’s exciting for even us,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You’re pulling for him every pitch. He’s fouling balls off, and then he gets one he wants and lines it.”
During this losing streak, the White Sox have been outscored 118-41 and have scored three or fewer runs in 14 of 15 games since the All-Star break. With a record of 27-86, the White Sox are on track to finish 39-123, which would be the most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League, who went 20-134.
The White Sox have not won a game since July 10 and have been outscored 81-38 in the eighth inning this year.
On Saturday, Chicago had only three hits, marking their 12th game this season with three or fewer hits.
Kepler homered three days after being hit on the head by an attempted throw from New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. He did not play in Friday’s series opener.
