SAN DIEGO – The White Sox tied the 2003 Detroit Tigers’ American League record for losses in a season Saturday and will wake up Sunday knowing another loss to the Padres would tie the 1962 Mets’ major league record.
Sending Chris Flexen to the mound to delay those developments was no way to avoid defeats. Flexen fell to 0-11 in his last 22 starts, then allowed a pair of homers in a 6-2 loss to the Padres at Petco Park. Flexen’s 23-game winless streak is the longest in franchise history.
There’s no getting around the subject of losing, although interim manager Grady Sizemore has tried to by deflecting questions about the records for days now, emphasizing player development for next year instead. Sizemore can’t be faulted for changing the subject, but it’s hard turning the attention elsewhere when national media is paying close attention.
“It’s not always about the wins,” Sizemore said Saturday. “It’s fighting, having a good mindset, trying to stay positive. Obviously, we do want to win. It is a big priority for everybody.”
Wanting and doing are different matters for the Sox.
The Padres (88-66 entering Saturday) put Flexen in a 3-0 hole in the second on Xander Bogaerts’ 11th homer in the second and David Peralta’s eighth homer in the fourth.
Lenyn Sosa’s RBI single against Martin Perez in the sixth made it 4-1.
Soroka returns, Kuhl DFA’d
Right-hander Michael Soroka was returned from his injury rehab assignment for a right shoulder strain — he replaced Flexen in the sixth — and right-hander Chad Kuhl (5.06 ERA, one save in 31 appearances) was designated for assignment. Rookie right-hander Jordan Leassure was returned from his rehab stint (right shoulder impingement) and optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.
In six rehab games at Charlotte, Soroka was 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA. He was 0-10, 5.23 in 22 appearances (nine starts) with the Sox.
Split decision for Berroa
Right-hander Prelander Berroa, acquired from the Mariners in the offseason with outfielder Zach DeLoach for righty Gregory Santos, is working on a splitter during side sessions that he expects to introduce next season. Berroa’s 98 mph (average) fastball and slider have been good enough for a 2.35 ERA and 24 strikeouts (and seven walks) in 15 1/3 innings through Friday.
“Another way to make the batter feel a little more uncomfortable,” Berroa said through translator Billy Russo. “Make them think a little more.”
Berroa, 24, hasn’t been scored on in his last eight games.
“The results have been there, and this is what the organization wants to see from me,” Berroa said. “It has been good for my confidence.”
Figure it out
Jacob Amaya, who had 10 plate appearances to his name when the Sox clamed him off waivers from the Astros on Aug. 26, arrived as a defense-first shortstop and has pretty much shown that to be the case with a .238/.304/.262 hitting line with one extra-base hit in 46 plate appearances entering Saturday.
Amaya’s off-season focus will be on his hitting.
“There’s gonna be a day when I figure out the hitting,” Minaya, 25, said, “and it’s going to be a good year when I do. I know I can play defense for my guys on the mound but it’s the other side of the ball that I want to get going.”