Chris Flexen Leads White Sox to 7-0 Victory, Halts Losing Streak \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Chicago White Sox avoided breaking the modern MLB record for losses by defeating the Los Angeles Angels 7-0 on Thursday. Chris Flexen pitched a dominant game, securing his first win since May 8, while the White Sox improved to 39-120 with a three-game sweep. The Angels, setting a franchise record with 96 losses, struggled offensively throughout the series.
White Sox Avoid Record Losses: Quick Looks
- White Sox beat Angels 7-0, sweeping the series and improving to 39-120.
- Chris Flexen earned his first win in 23 starts, striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.
- Chicago remains tied with the 1962 Mets for the modern MLB record for losses.
- The Angels set a franchise record with 96 losses this season, finishing their road schedule 31-50.
- A seven-run fifth inning, highlighted by Andrew Vaughn’s two-run single, sealed the victory for Chicago.
- The White Sox conclude their season with three games at Detroit this weekend.
Deep Look:
The Chicago White Sox staved off a record-breaking season for the third consecutive game on Thursday, as they blanked the Los Angeles Angels 7-0, completing a three-game sweep and improving their record to 39-120. While still tied with the infamous 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a modern MLB season, the White Sox ensured that they didn’t claim the record outright, at least not yet, with only three games remaining this weekend against the Detroit Tigers.
Chris Flexen was the key to Thursday’s victory. The right-hander, who had endured a brutal stretch of 23 starts without a win, finally snapped his drought by pitching 6 1/3 strong innings, striking out seven and allowing just five hits. Flexen (3-15) had not won a game since May 8 and set a franchise record for the most consecutive winless starts. His performance on Thursday, however, was a much-needed boost for both him and the struggling White Sox, who are trying to end their season with some semblance of positivity.
“Flexen gave us exactly what we needed today,” said White Sox manager Pedro Grifol. “He was sharp from the start, and it was great to see him get back in the win column.”
The Angels, meanwhile, hit a new low, as their 63-96 record set a franchise mark for losses in a season. Los Angeles struggled offensively throughout the series in Chicago, managing just five runs and 19 hits across the three games. In Thursday’s shutout, they mustered only six hits, five of them off Flexen. The Angels’ road woes continued as well, finishing the season with a 31-50 record away from home — their worst since 1996.
The game took a turn in the fifth inning, when Chicago broke it open with a season-high seven-run rally. The outburst was aided by a costly error from Angels shortstop Jack López, who had been moved from second base after starting shortstop Zach Neto exited with a shoulder injury. Neto was hurt in the fourth inning while attempting to advance to second base on a wild pitch, further compounding the Angels’ tough day.
Andrew Vaughn capitalized on López’s mistake, hitting a two-run single to extend the lead, while Lenyn Sosa added a two-run double, helping Chicago pull away. Vaughn led the White Sox offense with three hits, contributing to a 12-hit performance by the team. Sosa, Zach DeLoach, and Dominic Fletcher also added two hits apiece, giving Chicago the offensive spark they’ve been searching for all season.
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson (10-15) struggled in his final outing of the year, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. It was another disappointing performance for Anderson, whose inconsistency has mirrored the struggles of the entire Angels pitching staff.
Despite the Angels’ continued setbacks, manager Ron Washington remained hopeful that first baseman Nolan Schanuel, who sat out Thursday after fouling a ball off his leg in Wednesday’s game, would be able to play in the team’s final series this weekend against the Texas Rangers. “He’s moving around better,” Washington said. “We’ll see where he is when we get back to Anaheim.”
The White Sox will close out their season with a three-game set in Detroit, where left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-12, 3.68 ERA) will take the mound in the opener. Crochet has had a strong season despite the team’s struggles, recording a career-high 203 strikeouts in 142 innings. He’ll look to end his season on a high note, while Chicago aims to avoid making history with a 121st loss.
The Angels, who now hold their own unwanted franchise record for losses in a season, will begin their final series against the Texas Rangers on Friday, with Reid Detmers (4-8, 6.67 ERA) set to pitch. He’ll face the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom (0-0, 1.35 ERA) in what will be a challenging finale to a forgettable season for Los Angeles.
