White Sox sweep Angels in home finale, avoid record 121 loss - ESPN

CHICAGO — It took a few days but the Chicago White Sox may have won over their fan base — at least for the moment — in their home finale after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and in the process avoiding a record 121st loss of the season.

The White Sox began the series on Tuesday to a cascade of boos as well as chants of Sell the Team even after winning the first two games of the series. But fans came around in the finale, a 7-0 win, giving an ovation to starter Chris Flexen when he came off the mound, after tossing 6.1 shutout innings, then again after the final out.

«It was awesome, especially after the last couple of nights, hearing boos after winning a game,» Flexen said afterwards. «Its been tough but to get that ovation was pretty special.»

Chicago scored seven runs in the fifth inning, their highest scoring inning of the season, to help stave off history. They're tied with the 1962 Mets for the most losses in a single season in modern day history (since 1920) but finish the year against the red hot Detroit Tigers this weekend.

They'll need another sweep to avoid owning the record outright. They're 39-120 after Thursday's win.

«Its going to be a fun atmosphere there,» interim manager Grady Sizemore said. «Those guys are playing for the postseason and we're going there to compete and not make it easy.»

Sizemore said he's been wearing the same undershirt all week — though its been washed — as the wins have piled up. His team completed just their second sweep of the season while delivering the Angles their 96th loss of the year, a franchise record. The sweep comes as the focus on the team has solely been on them setting the record. Media from all over the country descended on Chicago in anticipation of it