The New York Mets defeated the struggling Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Saturday night after Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker set the tone early with back-to-back home runs in the first inning. After losing their ninth straight game, the White Sox have now equalled their franchise record from 1970 with 106 losses.
Chicago’s season is in jeopardy. They have a miserable 4-35 record since the All-Star break and might tie the modern MLB record of 120 defeats established by the 1962 Mets.
With a miserable winning percentage of 226 on the season, the Chicago White Sox might likely break the record for the lowest winning percentage in American League history. This would be higher than the infamous low of.235 recorded by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1916—a record that lasted for over a century.
Grady Sizemore stated; “A lot of things have been going against us.” He added; “We need that break just to kind of help the morale in that clubhouse”.
Mets keep rolling: Alonso’s 30th home run drives playoff push
With this win, the Mets, who now have a 72-64 record, won three in a row and cut Atlanta’s lead for the last NL wild card berth to just two games. The Mets have won eight of their last 12 games, a stunning surge that has put them eight games over 500 for the season.
Pete Alonso hit his 30th home run of the season in the game. He has hit 30 or more home runs in five of his six seasons with the Mets. He finished with 16 home runs in 57 games in the 2020 season, shortened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As he did for the second straight game, Winker put on another outstanding show with three hits and two RBIs. In addition to crossing the plate twice, Alonso contributed a single. Gavin Sheets, Miguel Vargas, and Corey Julks all drove in runs, and Andrew Benintendi, who contributed two singles, led Chicago’s offense. It was a thrilling display of talented players.
Jose Butto relieved Mets closer Edwin Diaz in a tight ninth inning, and despite a few obstacles, he recorded his third save.
Butto allowed a run after giving up a double to Vargas and singles to Jacob Amaya and Luis Robert Jr. The right-hander maintained his poise and retired Benintendi on a comebacker to complete the victory even with two runners on base.