Detroit Tigers

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Lore & Background

The September 27 matchup between Detroit and Chicago became one of the most significant games in recent franchise lore. While the White Sox were chasing the dubious record for most losses, surpassing the 1962 New York Mets, the Tigers were fighting to secure their place in the playoffs. The game remained scoreless through the first four innings until Jake Rogers scored from third on a wild pitch by Jared Shuster in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Vierling added a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 2–0. The White Sox briefly cut the deficit when Zach DeLoach hit his first major league home run, but Detroit responded with an Andy Ibáñez double and a double by Riley Greene that scored Ibáñez. A later wild pitch pushed the lead to 4–1, sealing the victory for Detroit.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere surrounding the September 27 game was thick with contrasting histories. Chicago fans held signs reading "121" and booed their own team's mistakes, hoping to witness a record-breaking loss, while Detroit fans celebrated a playoff berth. The Tigers' pitching staff, led by rookie Brant Hurter who earned the win after four innings, successfully limited the White Sox to just one run. Relief pitchers Tyler Holton, Will Vest, and Jason Foley closed out the game, with Foley recording his 28th save. The final out came when Andrew Vaughn flied out to right fielder Wenceel Pérez, who bumped into Parker Meadows and fell while making the catch. This moment sent the Detroit crowd into a frenzy as they secured their first playoff spot since 2014.

Reader's Guide

Interim manager Grady Sizemore addressed the media before the game, acknowledging the frustration surrounding the White Sox's record but emphasizing that his players remained professional competitors. He noted that since the Tigers were attempting to clinch a playoff spot, the White Sox intended to do their best to spoil it. The game featured specific turning points, including the wild pitch by Jared Shuster and the fielding error by Dominic Fletcher on Andy Ibáñez's double. Despite the chaos of the season, Sizemore stated post-game that the team was "not the year we wanted," though he expressed uncertainty about how long his frustration had been building before the record became imminent.

Did You Know?

• The Tigers secured their first MLB Playoff berth since 2014 with a win over the White Sox on September 27, 2024.
• Rookie Keider Montero earned the win for Detroit after pitching five innings in the historic game.
• Wenceel Pérez made the final out catch by bumping into teammate Parker Meadows and falling to the ground.
• The White Sox surpassed the 1962 New York Mets' record of 120 losses with their defeat on September 27, finishing the season at 41–121.