White Sox losing streak reaches 19 as Kepler hits go-ahead, 7th-inning homer in Twins’ 6-2 win
MINNEAPOLIS — The White Sox extended their team-record losing streak to 19, giving up Max Kepler's tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning that lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 6-2 win on Saturday night.
“It can't go on forever,” White Sox starter Garrett Crochet said. “Showing up to the field every day, we're expecting to break the streak.”
Chicago's losing streak is the longest since Baltimore dropped 19 in a row in August 2021 and tied the seventh-longest since 1901.
The White Sox were held to three hits for the second straight night and to three hits or fewer for the 12th time this season.
“It's a lot of pressure,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “You can't afford to make mistakes.”
Kepler, who entered in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter, hit his seventh home run of the season. The drive to right off Touki Toussaint (0-1) sent the Twins to their 11th win in 12 games against the White Sox this season.
Willi Castro hit a 2-run single in a 3-run eighth on the 13th pitch of his at-bat against John Brebbia and Brooks Lee added an RBI single.
“There were some big moments in this game, but the Willi Castro at-bat, it's exciting for even us,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You're pulling for him every pitch. He's fouling balls off, and then he gets one he wants and lines it.”
Chicago has been outscored 118-41 during its skid and has scored three or fewer runs in 14 of 15 games since the all-star break. At 27-86, the White Sox are on pace to finish 39-123, which would be the most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League went 20-134.
The White Sox have not won since July 10. Chicago has been outscored 81-38 in the eighth inning this year.
Chicago mustered just three hits Saturday, its 12th game this season with three hits or fewer.
Kepler homered three days after he was hit on the head by an attempted throw by New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. Kepler did not play in Friday's series opener.
“I was honestly just trying to see how my eyes would react to two days off,” Kepler said. “I guess it took me an at-bat to muster his pitches together. I stayed within myself the second time around and was just more patient.”
Bailey Ober (11-5) won his third straight start, allowing two runs and two hits in seven innings. His last loss was to the White Sox on July 10.
Crochet allowed one hit in four innings, Ryan Jeffers' solo homer in the second. He threw 77 pitches.
“His stuff was really, really good,” Grifol said.
Brooks Lee hit an RBI single in the fifth against Toussaint.
Korey Lee hit a tying RBI triple in the fifth and Brooks Baldwin made it 2-2 with his first big league homer in the sixth.
The crowd of 38,289 marked the second sellout at Target Field this year.
Chris Flexen (2-10, 5.13 ERA) starts Sunday's series finale for Chicago, while Minnesota counters with Simeon Woods-Richardson (3-2, 3.74).