The Chicago White Sox were not only eliminated from the playoffs with a Game 5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, but they made some unwanted history again.
Just two games ago in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, the White Sox struck out 19 times, setting an MLB record for the most strikeouts by a team in a nine-inning playoff game.
That record had stood for six years, but the new record only stood for three days.
That’s because the White Sox struck out a staggering 21 times on Saturday night, losing 2-0 to the Guardians and finding themselves eliminated from the postseason.
The 21 strikeouts are just two strikeouts shy of any game in playoff history, with the Baltimore Orioles striking out 23 times in a 12-inning game during the 1996 postseason.
Sam Antonacci was the only White Sox player not to strike out in the game, and both Munetaka Murakami and Andrew Benintendi were 0-for-4 with four strikeouts apiece. Chase Meidroth and Kyle Teel each struck out three times in the game.
In total, the White Sox struck out a staggering 52 times in the final three games of the series after taking a 2-0 lead with two straight wins in Cleveland.
Gavin Williams started for Cleveland and struck out 12 batters, and he had struck out 11 batters in Game 2 of the series. Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith each struck out four in their appearances, capping off a remarkable pitching performance by the Guardians in the final games of the series.
Now, the White Sox are left to wonder what could have been, and the Guardians will advance to the American League Division Series, where they will face the Tampa Bay Rays.