In a dramatic turn of events, the Chicago White Sox orchestrated a thrilling late-inning comeback against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, turning what seemed like an impending loss into a spirited 3-2 victory. Entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the White Sox found themselves in a 2-0 deficit and in danger of succumbing to their 121st defeat of the season—a fate that would have inched them closer to the infamous modern Major League Baseball record held by the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a single season.
The Eighth-Inning Turnaround
The White Sox's fortunes began to shift at the bottom of the eighth inning. Zach DeLoach and Bryan Ramos initiated the rally with back-to-back doubles, finally putting a dent in the Angels' lead and securing Chicago's first run of the game. The momentum continued to build as Lenyn Sosa, showing discipline at the plate, worked a walk off Angels reliever Hunter Strickland, loading the bases and intensifying the pressure on the visiting team.
Tying the Game
With the bases loaded, Luis Robert came through with a crucial single, bringing Bryan Ramos home to tie the game at 2-2. The excitement didn't stop there. Jack López, unable to catch Robert's pop-up, set the stage for Andrew Benintendi. Rising to the occasion, Benintendi delivered a single to left field, propelling the White Sox into a 3-2 lead to the delight of the home crowd.
Closing it Out
As the game moved to the ninth inning, the responsibility of closing out the match fell to Justin Anderson. Despite a moment of tension when Anderson issued a walk to Mickey Moniak with two outs, he composed himself and coaxed a ground out from Eric Wagaman to seal the victory. This save brought Anderson in line with two other White Sox pitchers for the most saves this season among the current active players on the roster.
A Season of Struggles
The win was particularly notable as it marked the first time this year that the White Sox managed to secure a victory after trailing past the seventh inning. Their struggles have been evident, with multiple pitchers like Michael Kopech, John Brebbia, Tanner Banks, and Jordan Leasure—who have made significant contributions in the form of saves this season—no longer with the team or currently playing in the minors.
Looking Ahead
The White Sox will face the Angels again on Wednesday night, hoping to build on this exhilarating comeback and perhaps glean some momentum as the season winds down. For now, Tuesday night's game stands out as a beacon of resilience in an otherwise challenging season, offering a glimmer of what the team could achieve with determination and timely performances.