White Sox Stage Dramatic Late-Inning Comeback to Avoid Record-Setting Loss
On a night brimming with tension and drama, the Chicago White Sox pulled off a thrilling late-inning comeback against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, transforming a 2-0 deficit entering the bottom of the eighth inning into an exhilarating 3-2 victory. The win not only electrified the home crowd but also averted a brush with ignominy as the White Sox dodged their 121st loss of the season, a defeat that would have meant breaking the modern Major League Baseball record for the most losses in a single season set by the 1962 New York Mets.
The game was a rollercoaster for Chicago fans, who have endured a tough season. The White Sox, struggling for consistency, had not managed a single victory this year after trailing past the seventh inning—until Tuesday night. The turnaround began in the bottom of the eighth when Zach DeLoach and Bryan Ramos ignited the rally with back-to-back doubles, putting a dent in Los Angeles' lead and notching Chicago's first run of the game.
The momentum shifted palpably as Lenyn Sosa worked a walk off Angels reliever Hunter Strickland, loading the bases and heightening anticipation in the stadium. Luis Robert then etched his name into the highlight reel, singling to bring Bryan Ramos home and tie the game at 2-2. The inning could easily have lost its magic when Jack López failed to catch Robert's pop-up, but fate seemed to favor Chicago.
As tension mounted, Andrew Benintendi stepped up to the plate and delivered a clutch single to left field, plating Sosa to give the White Sox a 3-2 lead. The roar from the crowd was deafening, a cathartic release for fans who had waited through a long season for a moment like this.
The White Sox then handed the ball to veteran right-hander Justin Anderson to close out the game in the ninth inning. Anderson, who had not recorded a save since 2019, was resolute under pressure. Despite walking Mickey Moniak to put the tying run on base with two outs, Anderson kept his cool, coaxing a ground out from Eric Wagaman to end the game and secure the victory for Chicago.
This save was particularly significant for Anderson, as it tied him with two other White Sox pitchers for the most saves in the current season among active players on the roster. The context of this accomplishment is steeped in the team's turbulent year; Michael Kopech, John Brebbia, Tanner Banks, and Jordan Leasure, the Chicago pitchers who have multiple saves this season, are no longer with the team or are playing in the minors.
With one milestone narrowly avoided, the White Sox will now turn their attention to their next matchup against the Angels on Wednesday night. The push to stave off that 121st loss continues, but for now, Tuesday's gritty win offers a glimmer of hope and a reminder of just how unpredictable and thrilling baseball can be.