Giolito Ks eight straight, loses 6-3

Well, rather than focusing too much on all the bad that happened in the Chicago White Sox’s 6-3 loss to the pitiful Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Before the game even started, there was a super-cool moment where 112-year-old CP Crawford, attending his first White Sox game, met Harold Baines, got a custom No. 112 jersey, and just generally was the most awesome guy born in 1907 in the house.

Later, Lucas Giolito struck out a franchise record eight straight batters, all but one of them swinging:

And even Daniel Palka got in on some fun, getting ... a hit!

Kidding aside, Palka did hit the wall in Chicago this season, but let’s not pretend he can’t hit. He was terrific for the Triple-A Knights all year.

Tim Anderson, batting second, had two more hits (2-for-5, raising his batting average to .333) Yoán Moncada, batting leadoff, had three hits 3-for-5).

So, then, the bad? Well, the loss meant the White Sox dropped not only this September series to K.C., but the season series to the Royals, 10-9. Kansas City, after today, is 9 ¹⁄₂ games worse than the White Sox in the standings.

The White Sox, with their 82nd loss of the year, have ensured yet another losing season, their seventh consecutive. This stretch is now tied with 1944-50 as the second-longest season losing streak in franchise history — only the nine seasons 1927-35 has been worse.

The cooler weather today chilled the extra-base hits out of White Sox bats, as only James McCann’s double qualified of 11 South Side hits. On the other hand, four of six K.C. hits were for extras, two doubles and two homers.

There was other lousy stuff, but whatever, I’m tired of the negative. The White Sox fall to 64-82, a 71-win pace on the season. The ball club is in real need of a hearty road trip (three in Seattle, three in Minny, three in Detroit) over the next week-plus to stay on track.

Two late ones coming up in Seattle. See ya tomorrow night.