Newz(AP) — After becoming the first team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth, nobody would have begrudged the White Sox for spilling over the dugout railing Thursday and celebrating wildly on the field in Kauffman Stadium.Instead, they matter-of-factly formed a handshake line, as if their 9-1 win over the Royals was any 'ol mid-summer matinee.They were saving the party for the clubhouse.The White Sox clinched no worse than one of three AL wild-card spots with the rout in Kansas City, and in the plastic-draped visiting locker room, the bottles of Moët were stacking up quickly. Miguel Vargas was drenched, Munetaka Murakami was beaming and a team expected to finish last in the AL Central was relishing in a most improbable postseason appearance.“This means a lot for us,” Vargas said. “We've been chasing this moment for a long time.
It's special for the whole organization. This is a special group of guys, and this is the most fun we can have.”That might be a bit of hyperbole. The White Sox could be replicating — or, one-upping — the celebration this weekend.That's because they still have their sights set on a division title.
The White Sox began the day just a game back of Cleveland, which was finishing a three-game set in Boston later Thursday. Chicago was headed home for three games against last-place Colorado, while the Guardians were getting ready to fly to Kansas City, where they wrap up their regular season this weekend.Maybe that's why the White Sox showed some restraint in celebrating their postseason berth right in front of the Royals.They could still use a little help from them.“They know what this is about,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “This comes with the expectation that this was going to happen, which is really cool.
They're definitely letting loose right now, we'll have a fun plane ride, but then back to business tomorrow.”It was a charmed all-around day for the city of Chicago. Just as the White Sox were securing a postseason pass, the Cubs were tying up a 2-1 win over the Marlins, clinching a wild-card spot of their own in the NL playoffs. Both Chicago teams reached the postseason for the fourth time after 1906, 2008 and 2020.The Cubs made it last year, too, when the White Sox were busy losing 102 games and seemed to have little reason to hope.It wasn't jus…
(AP) — The Chicago White Sox became the first team to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons by reaching the playoffs on Thursday, throttling the Kansas City Royals 9-1 to ensure no worse than one of the three AL wild-card spots for the postseason.They could still win the AL Central, too. The White Sox began the day one game behind the Cleveland Guardians.Chicago has three games left at home against the last-place Colorado Rockies, while the Guardians wrap up their series in Boston on Thursday night before flying to Kansas City, where they coincidentally have three left against the Royals. The White Sox win mathematically eliminated Baltimore from postseason contention.Kyle Teel homered and reached base five times, and five different White Sox drove in runs.
David Sandlin (3-2) allowed one run on five hits over six innings against the club that drafted him out of Oklahoma four years ago.Randy Dobnak (3-5) allowed six runs — four earned — for Kansas City. He also made two errors while retiring just four batters.Salvador Perez homered for the Royals, reaching 20 in a season for a club-record 10th time.The first couple of innings summed up what the White Sox have done so masterfully this season: They capitalized on mistakes.Sam Antonacci opened the game with a single, Teel reached on a bunt when Dobnak's throw was wide of first base, and Miguel Vargas followed with an RBI single. Andrew Benintendi added a sacrifice fly and, after Vargas stole second to get into scoring position, Tristan Peters brought him home with another single to make it 3-0.More hijinks ensued in the second: Braden Montgomery singled leading off, Dobnak walked Antonacci, then the right-hander threw to nobody covering first base for his second error.
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