In a game that showcased both the struggles and resilience of two teams on different trajectories, the Detroit Tigers made a remarkable comeback against the Chicago White Sox, handing them their 100th loss in just 131 games. This loss puts the White Sox on track for a record that no team wants to hold—the worst in modern baseball history. With 123 projected losses over a 162-game season, they are on pace to surpass the infamous 1962 New York Mets, who lost 120 games in a 160-game season.
A Game of Turning Points and Momentum Shifts
Sunday’s matchup was the third in a four-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Tigers secured a 9-4 victory. The game’s turning point came in the fifth inning when the Tigers flipped the momentum with a three-run surge. This victory marked the Tigers’ third consecutive win, bringing their record to 65-66. With one more win in the series finale on Monday, they could reach a .500 record for the first time since June 5—a significant milestone for a team fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Manager A.J. Hinch couldn’t overstate the importance of this potential achievement. "It's important," Hinch said. "It's the next goal. Once you accomplish that, if we can do that, then we will reset the goals. That's not what we want to be, and the season is not over, if and when we can get to that mark, but I think it's important that we keep everything in perspective. Everybody is chipping away at doing their part because we do want to have a winning team. That matters to this group."
The Fifth Inning: Where the Game Was Won
The fifth inning was the turning point, where the Tigers seized control and never looked back. Right-hander Jonathan Cannon of the White Sox struggled to contain the Tigers’ offense as the first four batters reached base safely. Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith, and Jace Jung each hit singles, with Jung’s two-strike single tying the game at 3-3. Spencer Torkelson followed with a six-pitch walk, loading the bases and forcing Cannon out of the game.
Left-handed reliever Fraser Ellard was brought in to stop the bleeding, but the Tigers had other plans. Pinch-hitter Andy Ibáñez, known for his clutch performances, grounded into a force out that scored Keith, giving the Tigers a 4-3 lead. From that moment on, the Tigers controlled the game, steadily building their lead.
Colt Keith expressed the team’s growing confidence, especially as they eye a .500 record. "That'd be a big goal for us to achieve," Keith said. "I've been saying for a while that this team has a lot of potential, we just got to be more consistent. You see us being more consistent the last couple of weeks, playing good baseball. We just got to keep it going. If we do that, we'll be above .500 to end the year."
Breaking Down the Seventh Inning: The Nail in the Coffin
As if the fifth inning wasn’t enough, the Tigers extended their lead in the seventh, putting the game further out of reach for the White Sox. Right-handed reliever Enyel De Los Santos managed to strike out the first two batters, Keith and Jung, but a defensive miscue allowed Torkelson to reach base on an infield single. This mistake proved costly as Ibáñez took advantage, launching a two-run home run to left field on a two-strike count, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead.
Ibáñez's homer was particularly noteworthy as it was his first against a right-handed pitcher in the 2024 season. His timely hitting has been a key component in the Tigers’ recent success, and this home run was no exception.
The Tigers weren’t done yet. In the eighth inning, Colt Keith continued his stellar performance by driving a two-run double into the right-field corner off a middle-middle sinker from White Sox reliever Touki Toussaint. Keith’s double pushed the Tigers’ lead to 9-4, effectively sealing the game. Keith finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs, one walk, and one strikeout, leading a Tigers offense that tallied 14 hits and five walks.
"I'm feeling good," Keith said after the game. "I made a few adjustments in the last couple of weeks that's allowed me to really free up, loosen up and be able to pull some balls and also go the other way. Hopefully, I can keep it going."
The Pitching Battle: Holding the Line
On the pitching side, the Tigers used a combination of arms to keep the White Sox in check. Beau Brieske, who hasn’t been a traditional starter since 2022, got the nod as the opener. However, the White Sox quickly jumped on him, scoring two runs in the first inning. Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn delivered back-to-back doubles to give the White Sox an early 2-0 lead.
Despite the rough start, the Tigers’ bullpen stepped up. Left-hander Bryan Sammons took over in the second inning and provided stability, covering 4⅓ innings on just 50 pitches. In the third inning, Vaughn struck again, blasting a solo home run off Sammons, extending the White Sox lead to 3-1. But that was the last time the White Sox would hold a lead.
Sammons allowed just one run on three hits, with two walks and three strikeouts. He now boasts a 3.62 ERA in six appearances as a long reliever for the Tigers, proving to be a reliable arm in the bullpen.
The White Sox managed to score one more run in the seventh inning, courtesy of Corey Julks' sacrifice fly off right-handed reliever Will Vest, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 7-4. However, that would be the last of their offense. Jason Foley, another right-handed reliever, closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, marking his second outing in three days.
What’s Next for the Tigers and White Sox?
For the Tigers, this win was a significant step toward reaching their immediate goal of a .500 record. If they can win the series finale on Monday, they’ll hit that mark for the first time in nearly three months. More importantly, it would keep their playoff hopes alive, as they continue to build momentum with each victory.
Manager A.J. Hinch and his team know the importance of each game from here on out. "Everybody is chipping away at doing their part because we do want to have a winning team. That matters to this group," Hinch emphasized. The Tigers are playing with a sense of urgency, and it’s paying off.
As for the White Sox, the road ahead looks bleak. With 31 games left in the season, they need to find a way to stop the bleeding if they want to avoid setting a new record for futility. The 1962 Mets are infamous for their 120 losses, but the White Sox are on pace to surpass that mark, a distinction no team wants to hold.
The coming weeks will determine whether the Tigers can make a push for the playoffs or if the White Sox will cement their place in the annals of baseball history for all the wrong reasons. One thing is for sure: both teams are playing with something to prove, and the next month of baseball will be crucial for their respective futures.
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