Four factoids today: August 5, 1977 - In the first game of a key series with the Royals, Sox pitcher Bart Johnson and Royals catcher Darrell Porter got into a shoving match along the first base line in the third inning after Porter slammed into Johnson’s back while he was covering first base. In the sixth inning when Porter was coming up to bat, Johnson stepped off the mound and yelled out "Do you want it now?" and a brawl took place. Both players were ejected. After the game both Porter and George Brett came to the Sox locker room to apologize. Johnson had back surgery a few years before and didn’t appreciate being deliberately run into that area by Porter. August 5, 2022 – It was the continuation of one of the most dominant stretches of pitching in baseball history. The White Sox Dylan Cease held the Rangers to one run in six innings of work in a 2-1 win. That meant he broke the record he shared with Jacob deGrom for allowing one earned run or less in 13 consecutive starts. They shared the mark at 12 starts. It was the longest streak in baseball since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913. August 5, 2023 – Maybe it was the frustration of an atrocious season coming to a head. In the sixth inning of a game the Sox would win 7-4 in Cleveland, Jose Ramirez and Tim Anderson got tangled up at second base. Ramirez had laced a double down the line and when he slid between Anderson’s legs appeared to slightly push one of them. Anderson had already suffered a strained knee earlier in the season and reacted especially after Ramirez pointed a finger in his face. Anderson dropped his fielders glove and the two went at it. Anderson scored with a couple of punches before Ramirez dropped him with a right. Well after the benched cleared Sox manager Pedro Grifol and Guardians manager, and former Sox minor league manager, Terry Francona exchanged words and then Grifol and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh appeared to raise their hands to each other in the midst of a second flurry. Anderson and Grifol were the only Sox people ejected while four Guardian players and coaches were tossed. Suspensions were then handed out by the league after reviewing the video. August 5, 2024 – The most miserable season in the history of the franchise reached a new low as the White Sox were beaten 5-1 by the A’s in Oakland. It marked their 21st straight defeat, tying the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the longest losing streak in American League history. The modern baseball record for the longest losing streak belonged to the 1961 Phillies who dropped 23 in a row. Fortunately the White Sox were able to snap the losing streak with a 5-1 win the next night in Oakland meaning the Phillies record would still stand. Small consolation for a franchise that had become the laughingstock of the Major Leagues.
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