ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Eric Wagaman homered for the second straight game, Griffin Canning threw six innings of three-hit ball, and the Los Angeles Angels dealt the Chicago White Sox their 116th loss with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night.
The White Sox were trying to equal a season-high, four-game winning streak. Instead, they moved one step closer to the majors' post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets.
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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Eric Wagaman homered for the second straight game, Griffin Canning threw six innings of three-hit ball, and the Los Angeles Angels dealt the Chicago White Sox their 116th loss with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles Angels' Charles Leblanc, right, scores on a single by Taylor Ward as Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee waits for the ball during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Gustavo Campero, right, is tagged out at first by Chicago White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets after he rounded first for a single and tried to dive back during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa can't get to a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, top, tags out Chicago White Sox's Nicky Lopez as Lopez tries to steal second during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward, center, hits an RBI single as Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee, right, and home plate umpire David Arrieta watch during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Charles Leblanc scores on a single by Taylor Ward during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago is 36-116 with 10 games left and has the fourth-most losses in a season since 1900. The 2003 Detroit Tigers hold the American League mark with 119 losses.
The White Sox were shut out for the 19th time, tied for fourth-most since 2000, and finished with six hits. They had only two runners reach second base.
“We just didn’t get the momentum going. I thought we had had some chances and decent at-bats, but, just couldn't string anything together to create some offense,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said.
The Angels snapped a six-game losing streak. They scored in the third through seventh innings and had 10 hits for the first time in five games.
Wagaman connected on an elevated fastball from Enyel De Los Santos in the sixth inning for a 432-foot solo shot to left-center.
“It's been cool to be able to get the first few hits out of the way and get a couple of home runs,” said Wagaman, who lived 20 minutes south of The Big A in Aliso Viejo and grew up rooting for the Angels. “It's been a lot of fun from family and friends reaching out. We have 11 games left so hopefully we can finish strong.”
Five of Wagaman’s six hits have gone for extra bases, including the two homers. The third baseman also had an RBI single in the fourth to make it 2-0.
“He's showing that he has tremendous bat-to-ball skill. He has some power. We'll see where it goes,” manager Ron Washington said.
Canning (6-13) bounced back after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in his last start at Minnesota on Sept. 10. He struck out six and walked two while earning his third win since the All-Star break.
“I really didn't make any changes (between starts). I felt like I had better stuff in Minnesota, so that's just the way the game works out sometimes,” Canning said.
Taylor Ward opened the scoring in the third when he lined a base hit to left field off Davis Martin (0-5), driving in Charles Leblanc. Ward also scored on Jake Eder's wild pitch in the seventh inning.
Nolan Schanuel, who scored on Wagaman's base hit, doubled to the right-field wall to bring home Gustavo Campero and extend the Angels' lead to three runs in the fifth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: 2B Michael Stefanic (right calf tightness), 2B Brandon Drury (left hamstring tightness) and OF Mickey Moniak (left hand) were not in the lineup for the second straight day.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up their series with a Wednesday afternoon game. Angels RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-5, 5.08 ERA) has gone 0-2 in September. The White Sox will go with a bullpen game with RHP Jared Shuster (1-4, 4.54 ERA) being the opener.
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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Charles Leblanc, right, scores on a single by Taylor Ward as Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee waits for the ball during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Gustavo Campero, right, is tagged out at first by Chicago White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets after he rounded first for a single and tried to dive back during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Chicago White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa can't get to a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, top, tags out Chicago White Sox's Nicky Lopez as Lopez tries to steal second during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward, center, hits an RBI single as Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee, right, and home plate umpire David Arrieta watch during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Angels' Charles Leblanc scores on a single by Taylor Ward during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
JERUSALEM (AP) — With Israel's defense minister announcing a “new phase” of the war and an apparent Israeli attack setting off explosions in electronic devices in Lebanon, the specter of all-out combat between Israel and Hezbollah seems closer than ever before.
Hopes for a diplomatic solution to the conflict appear to be fading quickly as Israel signals a desire to change the status quo in the country's north, where it has exchanged cross-border fire with Hezbollah since the Lebanese militant group began attacking on Oct. 8, a day after the war's opening salvo by Hamas.
In recent days, Israel has moved a powerful fighting force up to the northern border, officials have escalated their rhetoric, and the country’s security Cabinet has designated the return of tens of thousands of displaced residents to their homes in northern Israel an official war goal.
Here's a look at how Israel is preparing for a war with Lebanon:
While the daily fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated on several occasions, the bitter enemies have been careful to avoid an all-out war.
That appears to be changing — especially after pagers, walkie-talkies and other devices exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least 20 and wounding thousands in a sophisticated attack Hezbollah blamed on Israel.
“You don’t do something like that, hit thousands of people, and think war is not coming,” said retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, who leads Israel Defense and Security Forum, a group of hawkish former military commanders. “Why didn't we do it for 11 months? Because we were not willing to go to war yet. What’s happening now? Israel is ready for war."
As fighting in Gaza has slowed, Israel has fortified forces along the border with Lebanon, including the arrival this week of a powerful army division that took part in some of the heaviest fighting in Gaza.
The 98th Division is believed to include thousands of troops, including paratrooper infantry units and artillery and elite commando forces specially trained for operations behind enemy lines. Their deployment was confirmed by an official with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements.
The division played a key role in Gaza, spearheading the army's operations in the southern city of Khan Younis, a Hamas stronghold. The offensive inflicted heavy losses on Hamas fighters and tunnels, but also wreaked massive damage, sent thousands of Palestinians fleeing and resulted in scores of civilian deaths. Israel says Hamas endangers civilians by hiding in residential areas.
The military also said it staged a series of drills this week along the border.
"The mission is clear," said Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, who heads Israel's Northern Command. “We are determined to change the security reality as soon as possible.”
The military movements have been accompanied by heightened rhetoric from Israel's leaders, who say their patience is running thin.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday night declared the start of a “ new phase” of the war as Israel turns its focus toward Hezbollah. "The center of gravity is shifting to the north by diverting resources and forces,” he said.
He spoke a day after Israel's Cabinet made the return of displaced residents to their homes in northern Israel a formal goal of the war. The move was largely symbolic — Israeli leaders have long pledged to bring those residents home. But elevating the significance of the aim signaled a tougher stance.
After meeting Wednesday with top security officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “We will return the residents of the north securely to their homes.”
Netanyahu delivered a similarly tough message with a top U.S. envoy sent to the region this week to soothe tensions.
An official with knowledge of the encounter told The Associated Press that the envoy, Amos Hochstein, told Netanyahu that intensifying the conflict with Hezbollah would not help return evacuated Israelis back home.
Netanyahu, according to a statement from his office, told Hochstein that residents cannot return without “a fundamental change in the security situation in the north." The statement said that while Netanyahu “appreciates and respects” U.S. support, Israel will “do what is necessary to safeguard its security.”
Israeli media reported Wednesday that the government has not yet decided whether to launch a major offensive in Lebanon.
Much, it seems, will depend on Hezbollah's response. The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is expected to deliver a major speech on Thursday.
But public sentiment in Israel seems to be supportive of tougher action against Hezbollah.
A poll in late August by the Israeli Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank, found that 67% of Jewish respondents thought Israel should intensify its response to Hezbollah. That includes 46% of Jewish respondents who believed Israel should launch a deep offensive striking Lebanese infrastructure, and 21% who seek an intensified response that avoids striking Hezbollah infrastructure.
“There’s a lot of pressure from the society to go to war and win,” said Avivi, the retired general. “Unless Hezbollah tomorrow morning says, ’OK, we got the message. We’re pulling out of south Lebanon,' war is imminent.”
Such a war would almost certainly prove devastating to both sides.
Already, more than 500 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes since Oct. 8, most of them fighters with Hezbollah and other armed groups but also more than 100 civilians. In northern Israel, at least 23 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed by strikes from Lebanon.
Israel inflicted heavy damage on Lebanon during a monthlong war against Hezbollah in 2006 that ended in a stalemate. Israeli leaders have threatened even tougher action this time around, vowing to repeat the scenes of destruction from Gaza in Lebanon.
But Hezbollah also has built up its capabilities since 2006. Hezbollah has an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, some believed to have guidance systems that could threaten sensitive targets in Israel. It has also developed an increasingly sophisticated fleet of drones.
Capable of striking all parts of Israel, Hezbollah could bring life in Israel to a standstill and send hundreds of thousands of Israelis fleeing.
Associated Press Writer Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Mourners carry the coffin of Mohammed Mahdi, son of Hezbollah legislator Ali Ammar, who was killed Tuesday after his handheld pager exploded, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters salute as they stand next to the coffins of four victims who were killed Tuesday after their handheld pagers exploded, during their funeral procession in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Hezbollah fighters carry one of the coffins of four fallen comrades who were killed Tuesday after their handheld pagers exploded, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Israeli firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an open field in northern Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
An Israeli firefighter works to extinguish a fire after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an open field in northern Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
