The White Sox, staring down a multi-run deficit in the eighth inning tonight, were as good as dead.
That's not hyperbole. As bad as the 2024 White Sox have been, they've been even worse in late innings. They had been 0-78 when trailing after six, and 0-94 when trailing after seven.
After a three-run eighth inning -- keyed by a very White Sox play by the Angels -- the White Sox are winless no more in these categories. And, for at least one more day, they are not the sole recordholder for the most losses in a modern MLB season.
The White Sox trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, with Jack López's first professional homer doubling the deficit in the top of the frame. The Sox were able to get that run back with a pair of one-out doubles by Zach DeLoach and a pinch-hitting Bryan Ramos, which staved off a 20th shutout if nothing else.
López himself gave back the other run. Lenyn Sosa drew a walk to prompt Hunter Strickland's removal, and Brock Burke appeared to clean up the mess when he got Nicky Lopez to fly out and Luis Robert Jr. to pop up behind second base. López seemed to have a bead on it as he drifted from behind second base toward his natural positioning, but then he started drifting back. And back. And back some more.
The situation escalated when he swiveled his hips to start pursuing the ball back toward center field, and by then, it was too late. The ball eluded his last-moment lunge and fell to the turf, Ramos scored to tie the game, and Andrew Benintendi, the author of an improbable percentage of White Sox home highlights, shot the ball through the left side to put the Sox ahead for the first time all evening.
Only one lead was necessary. Justin Anderson issued a two-out walk, but he caught a soft comebacker and ran it nearly all the way to Gavin Sheets before flipping to first for the final out.
Up until the sudden reversal, this had been a characteristic 2024 White Sox game. Jonathan Cannon threw six shutout innings and was rewarded with a no-decision, because his offense mustered just three singles over seven innings against Jack Kochanowicz.
Once the White Sox turned to the bullpen, they started trailing. Gus Varland walked former 2024 White Sox Kevin Pillar to open the inning, and Pillar eventually stole second and came around to score on Eric Wagaman's double for a 1-0 lead.
Prelander Berroa took over and gave up López's homer. His reward for making the situation worse? His first MLB victory. Life isn't fair, which isn't something you have to tell the 2024 White Sox. For one night, the ledger evened out.
Bullet points:
*Cannon's only blemish was in the fifth inning, when he was involved in a too-typical moment where a pop-up fell behind him, and between Sheets and Miguel Vargas. Cannon complicated matters by calling for it before bailing. Pitchers usually only are supposed to do the latter.
watching the white sox. pic.twitter.com/F1DMWCsVwK
— Jim Margalus (@SoxMachine) September 25, 2024
*The Angels stole three bases in their first three attempts, but Berroa was able to erase a walk by picking off Taylor Ward, and the White Sox were able to complete the out with a complicated rundown.
*The game was delayed 65 minutes by rain.
