Mini recap summary: It really wasn’t pretty for either team tonight, as they’re both terrible at baseball. The most interesting thing I learned in this game is that Steve Stone sold pre-paid funerals in the offseason. “Sell the team” chants rang out through the stadium several times as well, and the White Sox ruined my chance of covering history by winning this one.

Well, I supposed I really should write an actual recap, so here you go. The Good Guys took an early lead when Lenyn Sosa led off the bottom of the second with a double to left. After Bryan Ramos struck out swinging, strongman Korey Lee knocked a two-run blast in the second, giving the South Siders an early 2-0 lead. Really? We’re going to do this again, huh? All this hype around being the worst ever, to not really being the worst. It’s so White Sox.

The Halos knotted it up, however, in the top of the fourth. After getting the first two outs, Pale Hose starter Davis Martin (3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 4 K) clogged the bases. He walked Matt Thaiss, hit Gustavo Camperosingle, and surrendered a single to Jack López. Skipper Grady Sizemore went to his pen for Michael Soroka, and he gave up a single to Taylor Ward, plating the two tying runs. Soroka ended the inning by striking out Zach Neto. He looked solid in his 2 1/3 innings of work, giving up no runs on one hit with a walk and five strikeouts.

In the bottom of the frame, Sosa smashed a solo shot to left. He’s been on a heater during his last 15 games, slashing .400/.423/.620 with a .823 OPS, and is working hard to make a case for a roster spot in 2025. Someone should tell Lenyn he really doesn’t have to work that hard to make the 2025 team.

Then, with one out, the Sox packed the sacks but left all the ducks on the pond. Good Guys up 3-2.

The White Sox arm barn, which has been relatively decent lately, labored tonight but was effective in the end. Enyel De Los Santos came on to pitch the seventh and got into a bit of trouble with one out. The righthander walked Neto, and Brandon Drury smacked a single, but then old friend Kevin Pillar grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Justin Anderson was next up for the relief corp. He also loaded the bases with one out and gave up the game-tying run on a suicide squeeze. Fortunately, Ward grounded into a double play, and Anderson escaped with minimal damage. Fraser Ellard got the pill for the ninth and was pumping strikes. He made it look easy, setting down the Halos in order.

With the chance to walk it off in regulation, the South Siders couldn’t get the job done. Lee led off with a single to right, Dominic Fletcher popped out, pinch hitter Gavin Sheets struck out swinging on three straight pitches, and Miguel Vargas flew out to force the contest into extras.

To kick off the bonus Manfred baseball, Jared Shuster couldn’t find the strike zone and walked the first batter, putting men on first and second. But have no fear. The Sox turned their third double play of the night, and Matt Thaiss ended the frame with a fly out.

And because the South Siders clearly hate me and won’t allow me even the joy of writing about losing the most games in modern baseball, they found a way to victory. With ghost runner Vargas at second, Luis Robert Jr. struck out, and walk-off superhero Andrew Benintendi drove in the winning run with a single on a line drive to left. In the words of our esteemed play-by-play announcer John Schriffin, “Take that history!”

Tonight was my final White Sox recap for 2024. Thanks for reading and sticking with me here at Sox Populi through this awful season. I’ll be back again next year, ready for more, no matter how painful it gets. I hope you’ll join me! Have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable offseason, and Go Sox!

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