Rookie Eric Wagaman hit a home run for the second game in a row, and Griffin Canning pitched six innings allowing just three hits, helping the Los Angeles Angels defeat the Chicago White Sox 5-0 on Tuesday night.
The White Sox were aiming to match their season-high four-game winning streak. Instead, they moved closer to breaking the post-1900 major league record of 120 losses set by the 1962 expansion New York Mets.
Chicago now stands at 36-116 with 10 games left, marking the fourth-most losses in a season since 1900. The 2003 Detroit Tigers hold the record for the American League with 119 losses.
The White Sox were shut out for the 19th time, which ties them for the fourth-most since 2000, and they ended with only six hits. They had just two runners reach second base.
“We just didn’t get the momentum going. I thought we had some chances and decent at-bats, but just couldn’t string anything together to create some offense,” said interim manager Grady Sizemore.
The Angels ended their six-game losing streak by scoring in the third through seventh innings and achieving 10 hits for the first time in five games.
Wagaman hit a 432-foot solo homer to left-center in the sixth inning off an elevated fastball from Enyel De Los Santos.
“It’s been cool to be able to get the first few hits out of the way and get a couple of home runs,” said Wagaman, who grew up just 20 minutes south of The Big A in Aliso Viejo and has been a fan of the Angels.
“It’s been a lot of fun from family and friends reaching out. We have 11 games left, so hopefully we can finish strong.”
Five of Wagaman’s six hits this season have been extra-base hits, including the two home runs. He also added an RBI single in the fourth to make it 2-0.
“He’s showing that he has tremendous bat-to-ball skill. He has some power. We’ll see where it goes,” said manager Ron Washington.
