The Chicago White Sox lose 2-0 to the Oakland Athletics, their 115th defeat.

It looked like Andrew Vaughn had caught ball four.

But instead of the bases loaded and an out in the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics, Vaughn stayed in the box when plate umpire Brian Walsh called a strike on a 3-0 pitch that went wide, according to MLB Statcast.

Vaughn ultimately failed to make it. And the White Sox's best scoring opportunity fizzled out when Lenyn Sosa hit a line drive to left.

“That was a big turning point in the game,” said interim manager Grady Sizemore. “I don't want to sit there and complain about a strike or a ball call. You've got the bases loaded, one out, then two outs and guys on first and second base. That got them back in the game.”

“Big change in dynamics.”

The Sox were never able to gain the upper hand in their 2-0 loss to the A's in front of 26,513 spectators at Guaranteed Rate Field.

For the Sox, it was their 115th loss, extending their franchise record.

With 14 games to go, the Sox are just five losses away from tying the 1962 New York Mets (40-120) for the most losses in a season in the modern era.

The 115 losses are the fourth-highest number in a season in the modern era of MLB, with the Baltimore Orioles finishing 47-115 in the 2018 season and the 1935 Boston Braves finishing 38-115.

The Sox have the most losses of any team in modern history, 33-115, through 148 games. The 1916 Philadelphia A's are in second place, at 33-114-1.

Photos: Oakland Athletics 2, Chicago White Sox 0

The Sox kept a clean sheet for the 18th time this season, extending their franchise-record home losing streak to 16 games.

“I feel like it's been like that all year, there's no margin for error,” Sizemore said. “The gaps have been tight for us. I think we're used to playing like that. It's not an easy way to play. We've just had trouble getting the big hit and scoring the runs when we needed them.”

“I think the batting chances are still good, but we're still not getting the big hit when we need it.”

Athletics starter Brady Basso allowed five hits in 5 1/3 innings while allowing two strikeouts and a walk to earn the first win of his major league career.

Garrett Crochet, making his 30th start of the season for the Sox, allowed one run on three hits, four strikeouts and no walks in four innings. The left-hander threw 56 pitches.

“I felt really good. I think that was one of the few times since the All-Star break that I actually pitched,” Crochet said. “Overall, I was happy with my stuff.”

“I felt like I was able to incorporate a lot of things early on. I incorporated the slider, incorporated the changeup, threw a couple of sinkers. I just felt like I did what I wanted to do for the most part.”

The A's scored on a two-out RBI double by Zack Gelof against Crochet in the fourth inning and an RBI single by Brent Rooker against reliever Gus Varland in the fifth inning.

Bryan Ramos led off the Sox in the sixth inning, and with one out, Andrew Benintendi singled. That brought Vaughn in for a 3-0 lead. Reliever Michel Otañez got the strike call for the high sinker and struck out Vaughn two pitches later with a swing.

Sosa's lineout to left ended the threat. The Sox had one more hit the rest of the game, a single by Vaughn in the ninth. He had two of the team's six hits.

“We didn't get big hits when we needed them,” Sizemore said. “We had some good hits throughout the game. We had a chance to load the bases when (Vaughn) was on the field and then a decision went against us and that was probably our biggest chance to start a comeback.”

“Good at-bats together later against (A's closer Mason) Miller (in the ninth), but still not enough to accomplish anything. Just not a good day offensively.”

Sean Burke starts on Sunday

The Sox announced that right-hander Sean Burke will start the final game of the series against the A's on Sunday.

Burke allowed one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk in three innings while working out of the bullpen in his major league debut against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.

Originally published: September 13, 2024 at 10:51 p.m.