One of the longest losing streaks in baseball history has finally come to an end. The Chicago White Sox defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-1 on Tuesday night at Oakland Coliseum, halting their grueling 21-game skid.
Leading the charge was starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon, who delivered a stellar performance. Cannon pitched six solid innings, allowing just one run while striking out five. Notably, Cannon overcame several early jams, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and escaping a double-play situation in the second. Despite facing trouble once again in the fifth inning, he managed to strand two runners and keep the Athletics at bay.
After Cannon's commendable effort, the White Sox bullpen, which had struggled with a dismal 6.72 ERA from the All-Star break through Monday night, finally managed to hold firm. Relievers Dominic Leone, Chad Kuhl, and John Brebbia each pitched effectively to ensure the Athletics did not mount a comeback.
Offensive Contributions
The White Sox's offense played their part as well. Andrew Benintendi provided a much-needed spark with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Andrew Vaughn added to the lead with an RBI single in the sixth, which was followed by a run scoring on a wild pitch in the same inning. Lenyn Sosa capped off the night with an RBI single in the ninth, adding extra insurance to secure the win.
A Long Road
This victory marked the White Sox's first win since July 10, snapping a losing streak that ranks among the longest in MLB history. Only the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies and the 1988 Baltimore Orioles have endured a longer or equally lengthy streak. Other infamous 20-game losing streaks include those of the 1969 Montreal Expos, the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics, the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, and the 1906 Boston Americans.
With the win, the White Sox improved their record to 28-88, a small but significant step forward. Despite this uplifting victory, the team is still on pace for a dismal 39-123 finish, approaching the worst records in modern-day Major League Baseball. The 1962 Mets, who posted a 40-120 season, still hold the dubious distinction of the worst record in MLB history.
No one could have anticipated such a momentous collapse from the White Sox. The bullpen's 6.72 ERA since the All-Star break had been emblematic of the team's larger issues, but Tuesday night’s game provided a rare glimpse of hope. For now, the players and fans alike can savor the end of a historically brutal stretch and look toward a brighter finish to the season.