In a season marked by more despair than triumph, the Chicago White Sox finally accomplished an incredible feat: they won their first comeback victory of the year. In a tense game against the Los Angeles Angels, the White Sox narrowly escaped breaking a dubious MLB record for lasting a whole season without a come-from-behind win. This win, the team’s 157th of the season, provided a breath of relief from both fans and players.
The Turning Point
The game began much like others for the White Sox this season, with strong pitching but a lack of run support. Will Cannon pitched a respectable six innings, shutting out the Angels and striking out seven. However, the Sox fell behind 1-0 by the eighth inning. With supporters at Guaranteed Rate Field expecting yet another loss, the team did something it hadn’t done all season: fight back.
Zach DeLoach hit a double, followed by Bryan Ramos’ clutch hit, which tied the game. The pressure increased, and when Luis Robert Jr.’s popup fell after being misplayed by the Angels’ defense, the Sox saw an opening. Capitalizing on this, Andrew Benintendi hit an RBI single, scoring the game-winning run and drastically changing the momentum in Chicago’s favor.
“It felt like we were finally on the right side of a break,” said Benintendi, whose single not only gave the White Sox the lead but also exemplified the team’s remarkable endurance this season. “This win was long overdue, and it feels good to get it done.”
Holding On to the Lead
With the bullpen renowned for blowing leads — it currently holds the major-league record with 31 failed saves — supporters were understandably concerned as the Angels had one more chance to influence the game’s fate. Justin Anderson, who was faced with defending the narrow lead, kept his cool. Despite surrendering a walk, he got the last out, causing a groundout to seal the win.
The White Sox were on the verge of making the wrong kind of history, but this victory demonstrated that they still had some fight left. Interim manager Grady Sizemore reflected on the team’s perseverance, saying, “It’s nice to be on the other side of those breaks for a change.” The boys kept it close and fought till the end.”
Looking ahead.
Despite a disappointing season, this comeback victory provided a rare glimpse of optimism for the future. As the White Sox set to close up their 2024 season, their late victory keeps them from going winless in comebacks. While it doesn’t make up for the season’s disappointments, it does bring some atonement.
Fans will be watching attentively as the squad attempts to capitalize on its recent success, hoping that 2025 would bring better fortune. This season, the White Sox may have escaped making history in the worst possible way, but it’s a victory they’ll cherish.
