The Chicago White Sox had a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, and then history struck.
That tenuous lead disappeared in the span of four San Diego Padres batters, and the White Sox went on to their 120th loss, tying the post-1900 record set by the 1962 expansion New York Mets.
The dichotomy couldn’t have been greater.
The White Sox headed to a somber clubhouse and quietly packed for their flight home.
The Padres, who are closing in on a postseason berth, gathered in front of their dugout to applaud the sellout crowd of 45,197 that roared through the bottom of the eighth and then the top of the ninth of the 4-2 win in their regular-season home finale on the brilliant first day of autumn. Some fans even chanted “Beat L.A.!” in anticipation of a huge series starting Tuesday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers.