Make it six losses in a row for the now 4-16 White Sox, despite solid performances from Edgar Quero, Chase Meidroth and (surprise, surprise) Luis Robert Jr. Some less-than-clutch hitting (1-for-10 with RISP, including 0-for-6 in the last two innings) turned a comeback from down 3-0 into just another chance to watch the other guys celebrate.

The rematch between Shane Smith and Garrett Crochet went as advertised early, although neither pitcher was as sharp as he had been way back on Sunday. Instead of waiting until the eighth for a hit in that earlier game, the White Sox got a single in the second (from Quero, of course) and two more in the third (one from Meidroth, naturally). Crochet threw a lot more pitches this time — 85 through five — so his shutout work only lasted six innings.

Smith, perhaps over-pumped by a his hometown crowd, got worn out earlier than last time, too, getting clobbered in the fifth for a double, a single and a Rafael Devers opposite-field shot that not only went over the Green Monster, but clear out of Fenway for a 3-0 lead. Two very loud outs later he was out of the game, handing it over to a pen, including the just-promoted Jared Shuster, that only gave up two singles and four walks for the rest of regulation.

Meanwhile, Boston’s shaky D helped after Crochet was out of the game. Greg Weisert came in and walked Joshua Palacios with one out, with Palacios going all the way to third on what should have been an easy 3-6 double play that instead end with the ball in left field. That brought up Meidroth.

Meidroth’s first career RBI and third hit of the day made it 3-1 and brought up Robert, who had hit the ball well but right at people in his first two trips.

Robert’s second homer of the year (both against Boston) traveled 375 feet at 103.5 mph, made the score 3-3, and meant that neither starting pitcher would get a decision.

Both teams had a good chance to score in the ninth, but Quero’s leadoff double was followed by Palacios bunting a pop out (not forgivable at all), a Brooks Baldwin K and Meidroth having a rare failure and flying to right. Then, in the bottom half, Carlos Narváez singled and made it to second on a bad Andrew Benintendi throw, but foolishly got thrown out at third on a grounder back to the mound.

On to the 10th, with Meidroth as the Manfred Man and Robert unofficially-intentionally walked, only to be followed by strikeouts of Lenyn Sosa and Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn completing his 0-for-5 and 2 K day, but with a well-hit out to right.

In the bottom half Mike Vasil, who hadn’t allowed a run in 11 innings of work this year, got Trevor Story to hit a fly too shallow for the runner on second to advance, but after an intentional walk and a regular one, .172 hitter Triston Casas put one off the Monster to end the game. (Technically speaking, Vasil still hasn’t given up an earned run because the Manfred Man is unearned, although on the other hand were the game not over three runs would have scored.)

Game three in the series is tomorrow afternoon, Sean Burke vs. Tanner Houck, with game four the annual Patriots’ Day morning affair, Jonathan Cannon vs. Walker Buehler.

Futility Watch

White Sox 2025 Record 4-16, second-worst start in White Sox history (2024, 3-17) and tied for 18th-worst start in baseball history. A 4-16 record projects to 32-130 over a full season.

White Sox 2025 Run Differential -30, worst in the American League, second-worst in baseball, and projecting to a 52-110 record

All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2025, 19,226 games) 9,598-9,628 (.4992). It’s been 65 games since the White Sox had an all-time winning record

Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2024 White Sox, 41-121)
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120-1, finished three percentage points worse than the 2024 White Sox)
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (2024, 121)
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (2024, 41-121)
9 games worse, in each case

Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124 adjusted to 162 games) 6 games worse

Race to the Worst All-Time MLB Record (1899 Spiders, 21-141, adjusted to 162 games) 11 games better