Sheets' return to Baltimore offers lift: 'Love playing here'

BALTIMORE -- Even during the final month of a historically difficult season for the White Sox, one that continued with a 13-3, series-opening defeat to the Orioles on Monday, the chance for Gavin Sheets to play in front of family and friends at Camden Yards provided an emotional lift.

Maybe more so than ever.

“Getting in my own bed last night and staying at home and getting to play at a ballpark that I grew up in, that I have so many great memories [in], it’s definitely a jolt of energy,” said Sheets, a Baltimore native whose father Larry played for the Orioles from 1984-1989. “I love playing here, I love playing in front of my family, I love having my parents in the stands and playing in a place that my dad did a lot for the organization. I definitely never take it for granted.”

Sheets singled and drove in a run during a two-run first inning that provided fleeting hope that Chicago could halt its third double-digit slide of the season, now at 11 games.

And his performance on a sunny, clear and crisp Labor Day afternoon in front of an estimated 30-40 family members and friends, he can boast his best nearly monthlong stretch of the season, having batted .375 since Aug. 7.

His fourth multihit game at Camden Yards and strong close to 2024 won’t by itself help the White Sox avoid flirting with the 1962 Mets’ record of most losses in a single season in the Modern Era (since 1901). But it could provide a reservoir of self-belief in better days ahead.

“I feel like everyone in this room is learning something from this season, how to handle failure, how to handle disappointment and still being able to show up every day and play and have success,” Sheets said. “And I’m enjoying being an everyday player. It’s something I don’t take for granted after it being taken away from me at some points in my career, and [I] try to make the most of it.”

Flexen's day

Yet it was still another day when the White Sox wrote the wrong kind of history.

Right-hander Chris Flexen became the first pitcher in Major League history to see his team lose in 20 consecutive games that he started, surpassing the record of 19 set by Chris Capuano in 2007 and 2010 with the Brewers.

Flexen allowed only three of Baltimore’s 13 runs but labored through a 3 1/3-inning, 95-pitch afternoon, letting the first three batters reach in the first, third and fourth frames. He stranded two runners in the first and third to at least limit the damage temporarily, but still recorded 12 outs or fewer for the fourth time in seven starts.

“Every time I take the ball I expect myself to go out and be competitive, have strong outings,” Flexen said. “Today, my stuff was better than results. Just executing in a couple of situations, [I] just got in some bad traffic. I continue to fight, continue to work.”

Eloy's reunion

Former White Sox player Eloy Jiménez didn’t see action Monday, but he expressed excitement for his first series against his former team since he was dealt to Baltimore at the Trade Deadline.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Jiménez, who spent portions of six seasons on the South Side during an injury-plagued tenure. “I’m really excited to see them. But at the end of the day, I’m part of the Baltimore Orioles now.”

It was a trade that ultimately surprised him, even though team vice president and general manager Chris Getz had indicated he was trying to move the 27-year-old to the AL East contenders.

Since joining the Orioles, Jimenez is batting .284 with a home run, five doubles and seven RBIs in 24 games. And he admitted a season that is historic for all the wrong reasons certainly wore on him while still in Chicago.

“You don’t want to lose and you don’t play to lose,” Jiménez said. “It was hard -- even when we were winning, it felt like we were losing. But I know they’re going to figure it out and they’re going to do a better job next year.”