Andrew Benintendi’s big hit helps the White Sox avoid 121st loss

CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox avoided a record-breaking 121st loss for the second straight game, defeating the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on a 10th-inning single by Andrew Benintendi on Wednesday night.

Chicago shares the modern major league record for most losses in a season with the 1962 Mets.

On Thursday they play against Los Angeles again before completing the program with three games in Detroit.

Benintendi, a former Yankee, scored the game-winning hit for the second time in as many games when he hit a single to left-center field against Jose Quijada (2-1), helping the White Sox (38-120) avoid disgrace for the second night in a row.

Designated runner Miguel Vargas scored from second place.

The White Sox gave Benintendi no chance after he was crowned the winner with another hit.

On Tuesday, Benintendi hit a game-winning single in the eighth inning of Chicago’s 3-2 win.

“It feels good to win, but it sucks when the rain is pouring down on your head, especially when it starts to get a little bit cooler,” Benintendi said. “I tried to run away a little bit. No, it’s exciting. I mean, you want something like that to pour down on your head, even if deep down you’re trying to avoid it. It’s hard to avoid it.”

Korey Lee gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second inning on Wednesday night.

Lenyn Sosa put Chicago back in the lead with a decisive solo drive in the fourth inning against José Suarez.

The Angels had runners on the corners in the seventh inning against Enyel De Los Santos.

But they came away empty-handed when Kevin Pillar caused a double play.

The sparse crowd was largely quiet until the eighth round, when fans began to vent their displeasure at chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

They chanted “Sell the team!” and “Jerry sucks!” and the chorus only grew louder when the Angels tied with Justin Anderson.

Los Angeles had all bases loaded with one out before Michael Stefanic hit a bunt single on a squeeze play to tie the game at 3-3.

Taylor Ward then made a double play.

“We know they’re frustrated, but in that moment you try to block out all the negatives and focus on the game and what you can do to help the team win. We’re professionals,” said White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore. “We don’t let anything get us down. We go out there and try to compete and do our best to win.”

The Angels (63-95) reached a franchise record with their 95th loss, a mark shared by the 1968 and 1980 teams.

Los Angeles suffered three double plays in the final four innings, one of them with the bases loaded.

“I don’t know if it was us or if it was them making the throws,” manager Ron Washington said. “But you definitely wanted the ball to go in the air right away or get a base hit. We just didn’t get it done.”

White Sox starter Davis Martin allowed two runs and three hits in 3 ²/₃ innings.

The right-hander issued a career-high five walks and hit one batter before leaving the field with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.

Michael Soroka came in and allowed a two-run single to Ward, the only hit he allowed in 2 ¹/₃ innings.

Jared Shuster (2-4) worked on the 10th.

Suarez played five innings for Los Angeles, allowing three runs and five hits.

Chicago had never lost more than 106 before this year.

The White Sox surpassed that mark in time when they were defeated by the New York Mets on September 1.

Chicago set the American League record with 119 losses on Saturday in San Diego and tied the 1962 Mets the following day.

But with the White Sox possibly losing more games than any team since the Cleveland Spiders in 1899 (20-134), they have put history on ice over the past two nights.