White Sox lose record-tying 20th consecutive start for Flexen

BALTIMORE — Gunnar Henderson tied a franchise record for shortstops with his 34th home run, and the Baltimore Orioles extended Chicago’s losing streak to 11 by beating the White Sox 13-3 on Monday.

Chicago is 31-108 and has lost its 20th consecutive game with Chris Flexen (2-14), tying the major league record for consecutive losses by a starting pitcher, previously held by Milwaukee’s Chris Capuano.

Cedric Mullins hit a home run with three RBIs and Austin Slater and Henderson each had three RBIs for Baltimore, which overcame a two-game deficit to start a six-game home streak and improve to 5-0 against Chicago this season.

Baltimore’s leadoff batter reached a point in each of the first six innings for the first time since July 4, 1997, an 11-8 loss at Detroit in Game 2 of a doubleheader. The Orioles went 7-of-23 with runners in scoring position and moved to within a point of AL East leader New York.

The Orioles had their best offensive day since scoring a season-high 17 runs on June 20 against the New York Yankees, and their 18 hits were their most since scoring 18 in Houston on June 21.

“I think that’s the offense that we feel is ours and it was cool to see how it came out today,” Slater said.

After going 0-10 at home, Chicago is coming off its third-longest losing streak of the season, with a 21-game stretch from July 10 to August 5 and a 14-game stretch from May 22 to June 6. The White Sox would need to go 12-11 to avoid tying the 1900 losing record set by the 1962 New York Mets of 40-120.

Chicago is on pace to finish the season with a 36-126 record, which would be the second-worst loss behind the 1899 Cleveland Spiders’ 20-134 mark. The White Sox have lost 15 of 16 and 41 of 45.

Flexen (2-14) has allowed three runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings and is 0-11 with a 5.73 ERA in 21 appearances (20 starts) since a May 8 win at Tampa Bay. Capuano was 0-13 with a 6.12 ERA for Milwaukee in 23 appearances (19 starts) from May 13, 2007, to June 3, 2010, missing 2008 and 2009 because of Tommy John surgery.

Henderson opened the first round with a shot to the right side of the stands, tying him with Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Miguel Tejada (2004) for the most points among Baltimore shortstops.

Corbin Burnes (13-7) allowed 2 runs — 1 earned — and 6 hits in 5 innings. He was 0-3 since winning at Cleveland on Aug. 4.

GUARDIANS 4, ROYALS 2 Gavin Williams threw seven sharp innings as Cleveland beat Kansas City. Lane Thomas and Josh Naylor each hit a two-run home run for AL Central-leading Cleveland.

TWINS 5, RAYS 4 Trevor Larnach and Brooks Lee hit home runs to help Minnesota beat Tampa Bay.

ATHLETICS 5, MARINERS 4 Shea Langeliers led off the ninth inning with his second home run of the game, giving Oakland the win over Seattle.

YANKEES 8, RANGERS 4 Giancarlo Stanton hit 25 homeruns for the 10th time in his major league career, Gerrit Cole had nine strikeouts in six innings before cramping his right calf, and New York beat Texas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DODGERS 11, DIAMONDBACKS 6 Freddie Freeman hit two home runs and had five RBIs, Shohei Ohtani stole three bases and Los Angeles beat Arizona.

PIRATES 5, CUBS 3 Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen hit home runs in the eighth inning, in which Pittsburgh scored four runs and the Pirates held Chicago to a win.

INTER-LEAGUES

REDS 5, ASTROS 3 Santiago Espinal’s well-placed single gave the team two runs in the fifth inning, and Cincinnati defeated Houston.

PADRES 3, TIGERS 0 Joe Musgrove threw six solid innings and Fernando Tatis Jr. was 0-for-4 in his first game back since June 21, when San Diego beat Detroit.

METS 4, RED SOX 1 Luis Severino threw seven impressive innings, Francisco Lindor reinvigorated New York’s lineup and the surging Mets moved closer to a playoff spot with a victory over Boston.

Chicago White Sox slugger Chris Flexen throws a ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Baltimore Orioles slugger Corbin Burnes throws a ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Chicago White Sox center Jacob Amaya hits a single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Baltimore Orioles baseball player Gunnar Henderson catches a ground ball and grounds out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles hits an RBI single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Chicago White Sox center Andrew Benintendi hits a sacrifice fly ball to score a run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)