The Chicago White Sox suffered a 19th consecutive loss, setting a team record, as Max Kepler’s home run in the seventh inning propelled the Minnesota Twins to a 6-2 victory on Saturday night. Chicago’s losing streak now matches the 19-game slide the Baltimore Orioles had in August 2021.
Kepler, who came in as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning, smacked his seventh home run of the season, a tie-breaking shot to right field off Touki Toussaint (0-1). This win marked the Twins’ 11th victory in 12 games against the White Sox this season.
Willi Castro’s two-run single and Brooks Lee’s RBI single in the eighth inning extended the Twins’ lead. The White Sox have been struggling, being outscored 118-41 during their losing streak and scoring three runs or fewer in 14 of 15 games since the All-Star break. They currently sit at a record of 27-86, on track to finish the season with 39-123, which would be their most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.
Chicago has not secured a victory since July 10 and has particularly struggled in the eighth innings this season, being outscored 81-38 in that frame. Kepler’s home run came just three days after being hit on the head by a throw from New York Mets’ catcher Francisco Alvarez.
Pitcher Bailey Ober (11-5) earned the win for the Twins, pitching seven innings and allowing two runs on two hits. The White Sox’s Garrett Crochet gave up only one hit, a solo home run to Ryan Jeffers, in his four innings on the mound.
Korey Lee’s RBI triple and Brooks Baldwin’s first major league home run provided Chicago’s only runs of the night to tie the game. The game drew a crowd of 38,289 at Target Field, making it the second sellout of the year at the venue.
Before the game, the Twins paid tribute to Hall of Fame inductee Joe Mauer, who spent his entire 15-year career with the team, by honoring him. A bronze statue of Mauer will be unveiled outside Target Field next year.
In injury updates, Twins shortstop Carlos Correa participated in running and fielding drills as he continues to recover from plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
The series finale on Sunday will feature RHP Chris Flexen (2-10, 5.13 ERA) starting for Chicago, while the Twins will have RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson (3-2, 3.74) on the mound.
