In a sobering setback, the Chicago White Sox tied the American League record for most losses in a season, suffering their 119th defeat on Saturday night against the San Diego Padres. The game wrapped up with a 6-2 victory for the Padres, propelled by standout performances from Xander Bogaerts and Elias Diaz, who each belted two-run homers.

With a dismal record of 36-119, the White Sox now stand alongside the infamous 2003 Detroit Tigers, who also amassed 119 losses on their way to a 43-119 finish. Should Chicago lose just one more time in their last seven games, they will match the post-1900 record of 120 losses held by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. The unfortunate title of the all-time major league record for losses, 134, is still held by the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.

Chris Flexen, the White Sox pitcher, endured another challenging outing, remaining winless in his last 23 starts. The team has now lost 20 consecutive road series and has limped through the second half of the season with a staggering 9-48 record since the All-Star break. Projections indicate that the White Sox may be on pace to achieve an astonishing 124 losses by the end of the season.

Despite Chicago's struggles, Bogaerts remarked on the team's unexpected resilience: "They've been playing some good baseball these last couple of days. Obviously, we want to win every game by a big margin, but these guys are putting up a fight." The White Sox’s determination to disrupt their opponents’ playoff aspirations has been notable, even in a season filled with heartbreak.

On the positive side for the Padres (89-66), David Peralta contributed a homer of his own, as San Diego strengthened its hold on a National League wild-card spot, maintaining a two-game lead over Arizona. With playoff hopes alive, the Padres are now just two wins away from clinching their second postseason berth in three years.

Bogaerts quickly set the tone for the night with a two-run shot in the second inning, followed by Peralta’s long ball in the third. Rookie sensation Jackson Merrill continued to impress with an RBI single. In the late innings, Diaz added to the tally with a two-run home run, showcasing the talent in the San Diego lineup. Meanwhile, Lenyn Sosa and Bryan Ramos managed to provide a glimmer of hope for White Sox fans, contributing runs in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively.

On Sunday, all eyes will be on the White Sox as they brace for a potentially historic matchup. Starting right-hander Sean Burke (1-0, 2.25 ERA) is set to face off against Padres ace Yu Darvish (6-3, 3.21 ERA). Will the White Sox be able to stave off further embarrassment, or will they ensconce themselves in the history books for all the wrong reasons? Stay tuned to find out.