After a wild pitch by Athletics closer Mason Miller put Andrew Vaughn on second with one out in the ninth, the White Sox had a glimmer of hope.
The 26,513 fans at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday came to life after not having much to cheer about until then. Lenyn Sosa had a chance to drive in the Sox’ first run and give them a shot to steal the game against the A’s.
Sosa battled, working the count to 3-2 and fouling off five pitches during the at-bat. But Miller finally threw a 101.3 mph fastball that Sosa swung through. The strikeout ended any optimism that the Sox could rally.
Korey Lee proceeded to fly out to second baseman Zack Gelof to give the A’s a 2-0 victory. It was the Sox’ 115th loss and 16th defeat in a row at home.
The Sox need to go 10-4 in their last 14 games to avoid tying the 1962 Mets’ record of 120 losses.
“We didn’t get any big hits when we needed them,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said.
The pitching and defense largely held up for the Sox. All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet had another productive but short start, throwing four innings of one-run ball. He struck out four, walked one and allowed three hits.
“He was controlling the zone,” Lee said. “I don’t think they got to him; I think he got to himself a little bit when they scored. We’ve seen it all year, and I keep on saying this, he’s grown as a starting pitcher, and I couldn’t be more proud.’’
But the Sox’ offense is so tepid that on most nights, they’ll need to be perfect to avoid setting the record for most losses in the modern era.
The A’s second run came on a softly hit single in the fifth inning by Brent Rooker. It was the type of break the Sox have seldom gotten this season.
The Sox caught an unlucky break in the sixth inning. With a 3-0 count, Vaughn held off on a pitch out of the zone that was called a strike. Instead of a bases-loaded situation with one out, Vaughn eventually struck out before Sosa lined out to end the inning.
“I don’t want to harp on a strike call or a ball call,” Sizemore said. “But you go from bases loaded, one out to two outs and guys on first and second. That puts that pitcher in a tough spot. That got them right back into it.”
But those are the breaks when you’re the Sox. Those borderline calls really hurt a team bereft of talent.
“I feel like it’s been like that for us all year,” Sizemore said. “There’s no room for error. The margins have been slim for us. We’re used to playing that way. It’s not an easy way to play; it’s definitely not easy on the staff.”
There wasn’t booing after third baseman Miguel Vargas struck out to end the seventh inning, just a murmur. Sox fans, who’ve become apathetic, haven’t seen a home win since a 12-2 victory against the Yankees.
If the Sox want to avoid the all-time loss record, the series against the A’s and Angels will provide their best chances at stealing some wins. But the players have to trust each other offensively.
“Passing it off to the next guy and believing that the next guy is going to be able to step up,” Lee said. “And if you didn’t get the hit, pass it on to the next guy and believe that he can do it. I think that’s the name of the game.”