Triumphant White Sox Overcome Tigers in Stunning Season Finale

Lenyn Sosa lit up the diamond with a three-run blast in the third, propelling the Chicago White Sox to a commanding lead they would never surrender, eventually overcoming the Detroit Tigers 9-5 on Sunday. Despite a valiant effort from Kerry Carpenter, who sent the ball into the stands for a grand slam in the fifth, Detroit fell just short. Bryan Ramos’ significant contribution, a two-run single in a four-run seventh inning, ensured a comfortable victory for Chicago.

Tigers Secure Wild Card Despite Loss

While the Tigers suffered a loss in this game, their Friday night victory over the White Sox secured their spot in the American League wild card. This win ends a drier spell of ten years without playoff action, setting up a best-of-three series against the Houston Astros on Tuesday. The winner will advance to face the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series.

The Season in Retrospective

The Detroit Tigers emerged from the season with a respectable 86-76 record, marking an eight-game improvement from the previous year and their first winning season since 2016. A late-season surge saw the Tigers claim 31 victories in their last 46 games.

In contrast, the Chicago White Sox ended the season on a bitter note, with 121 losses, surpassing the post-1900 record of most losses previously held by the 1962 New York Mets. The overall record for most losses still stands, set in 1899 by the Cleveland Spiders.

Despite the disappointing season, the White Sox managed to rally towards the end, securing five victories in their last six matches. This was the team’s most successful run since early May. The change in management, with Pedro Grifol’s dismissal in August and the appointment of Grady Sizemore as interim manager, may have played a part in this late-season resurgence.

Season Finale Highlights

Jonathan Cannon (5-10) concluded the season for the White Sox, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. Kenta Maeda (3-7), on the other hand, gave up five runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings, his latest performance adding to a series of disappointing outings this season.

The White Sox demonstrated their fighting spirit during the final week, despite the lost season. Korey Lee’s RBI single in the second, which brought Sosa home, and Dominic Fletcher’s sacrifice fly later in the inning gave the White Sox an early 2-0 lead. Sosa’s home run off Maeda’s 84-mph splitter in the third stretched the lead to 5-0.

Looking Ahead

Moving ahead, the White Sox will take on the Cubs for their spring training opener on Feb. 22. The Tigers, however, have their eyes set on the Astros in a three-game series starting Tuesday. The goal? To secure a home playoff game at Comerica Park, as announced by Hinch.