Lucas. Giolito. Enough said.
Gio has the longest performance of a White Sox starting pitcher this season, 7 1⁄3 innings pitched, spearheading a 2-0 Chicago victory over Cleveland. In fact, if not for three walks, he may have pushed for a complete game shutout.
A masterpiece from @LGio27! pic.twitter.com/NBi5Xlyrgr
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 8, 2019
Lucas’ mound opponent, Jefry Rodriguez, had a quality outing as well. Rodriguez went six innings and only allowed two runs, striking out six while walking three. He limited the damage, but Cleveland’s offense couldn’t find an answer against Giolito.
To initiate the scoring, Yolmer Sánchez led off the third inning with a double. Ryan Cordell sacrifice bunted Yolmer to third, and Yoán Moncada, staying hot, drove in Sánchez with a line drive to left field.
Three innings later, José Abreu found his bat in the series and led off with a double. Yonder Alonso moved Abreu to third with a ground out, and James McCann singled Abreu home.
.@JamesMcCann34 cashes in on José Abreu's 6th inning leadoff double to extend our lead to 2-0! pic.twitter.com/rhScR5fHCW
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 7, 2019
Can we give a huge shoutout to McCann? He was a run-saver in the bottom of the eighth. As Sox fans watched anxiously, McCann kept his cool and blocked three breaking balls. Yes, he (Mc)Cann!
After Jace Fry pitched himself into an eighth inning jam, Alex Colomé replaced Fry and finished the game with an impressive, four-out save. The first of the four outs came in a bases loaded, full-count situation:
.@LGio27 = All of us pic.twitter.com/rzA3iYK1HJ
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 8, 2019
Lucas was DEFINITELY all of us.
As for newcomer Charlie Tilson, he made a spectacular diving catch in left field to save an extra-base hit in the ninth inning. He even went 1-for-3 with a walk. Tilson is making a statement about sticking in the majors for good this time around. I am all here for it.
Tonight’s game was a major showcase for the pitching and defense of the White Sox. If this team can nail down those aspects of the game, the offense will keep having field days like yesterday but will still be able to win the tight games — and that’s the making of a playoff contender.
Overall, Cleveland’s offensive struggles continued in tonight’s pitching duel. Francisco Lindor, in the leadoff spot, went 3-for-4; Jason Kipnis, who followed Lindor in the order, went 2-for-4. After them, Cleveland’s No. 3 through 9 hitters, nada; Lindor and Kipnis combined for 5-for-8, and the rest of the club went 0-for-22.
The White Sox have a 2-0 lead in the series, and they look to ensure a series win tomorrow night. Reynaldo López is the man on the bump, facing Cleveland’s Shane Bieber. Both pitchers have two wins and will be looking for their third.
Tomorrow’s game will once again be on NBC Sports Chicago and WGN-AM radio. It’s another great 5:10 CT start. Ali White, of the Eloy-Jiménez-two-homers-in-the-rain Whites, holds down the coverage.
To conclude the night, insert the sunglasses emoji!
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Appendix A
(the no-call strike to Santana that got Ricky ejected, h/t to contrarian jerk bangkokhoosier)
Appendix B
Check out the gear sported by Giolito postgame. Brother’s got taste. Thanks to road warrior Daryl Van Schouwen for capturing and feistmeister Ali White for spreading the word!
Look at Gio repping that Sitck Talk shirt @SouthSideSox https://t.co/UtWn2uIS0c
— Ali White (@aliwhitesox) May 8, 2019