The Chicago White Sox matched the Major League Baseball modern-era record for the most losses in one season on Sunday with a 4-2 defeat at San Diego.

The White Sox, who led before giving up three runs in the eighth inning, moved level to a dubious MLB milestone with their 120th loss of the campaign, matching the 120 losses by the 1962 New York Mets.

Chicago, which fell to 36-119 with a 6-2 loss Saturday at San Diego, broke the record for the most losses in American League history, surpassing the 119 defeats by the 2003 Detroit Tigers.

With another defeat, the White Sox will have the record all to themselves.

Chicago is set to play three home games against the Los Angeles Angels starting on Tuesday and then visit Detroit for three final games.

"Obviously, it's not a record you want to have, but at the end of the year, 120 or 123, it doesn't make the season any better," White Sox first baseman Gavin Sheets said. "It doesn't mean all this was a success because we didn't break the record – it was still a terrible season."

"At the end of the day, we need to get better going into next year," he added. "Hopefully, we grow from this season and we can take a big step forward."

While the all-time worst record before the pre-1900 modern era belong to the 1899 Cleveland Spiders at 20-134, there's little consolation to be found from the earliest days of the sport. (AFP)