Six Pack of Stats: White Sox 7, Rays 5

The Chicago White Sox came into St. Petersburg ready to win another series. Tonight was a great start to accomplish that goal against the AL-East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Lucas Giolito remains dominant, Tim Anderson is that guy, and the bullpen continues to work through its struggles — but showed up after the Sox rallied.

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The Starters

Lucas Giolito was just masterful! He continues to pitch well at The Trop, including even his 2018 season. His quality start entailed seven innings of two-run baseball, three hits, and ZERO walks. He struck out eight, and that slider, as I keep saying, is becoming an absolute weapon.

Here is how Giolito’s 90 pitches break down:

Baseball Savant

Michael Wacha had it, but also didn’t have it tonight. It was a peculiar outing. The Sox came out hot and recorded five hits through two innings, but only one run was scored. Through five innings, Wacha gave up nine hits and four runs; however, he did strike out nine.

His 100 pitches can be summarized below:

Baseball Savant

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Pressure Play

Austin Meadows was first-pitch swinging in a 7.92 LI play that resulted in a two-run single in the eighth inning.

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Pressure Cooker

After the Sox failed to score in the top of the 10th, Liam Hendriks came in for the bottom half. With one out and a runner on third, Liam locked down the hold at 4.00 pLI.

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Top Play

Intentionally walking the bases loaded in a one-run game to avoid Nelson Cruz and face Austin Meadows with two outs, Aaron Bummer threw a pitch right down the middle, and Meadows took it to center field and drove in the tying and go-ahead runs for a 5-4 Rays score in the eighth inning.

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Top Performer

Tim Anderson is THAT guy!! His .658 WPA willed this win, and I can’t wait to see this in the postseason!

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Smackdown

Hardest hit: Ji-Man Choi’s 105.6 mph solo home run in the second just bested José Abreu’s third inning 105.5 mph single, but Pito bested him a different way. After striking out in the seventh, Pito gave some advice to Eloy Jiménez, who crushed a slider for a single at 109.4 mph.

Weakest contact: César Hernández strikes again — a 70.1 mph ground out in the fourth, which is double his usual weakest contact exit velocity. Brian Goodwin was not happy, so he notched a 44.3 mph ground out in the eighth.

Luckiest hit: Wander Franco’s infield single against Bummer in the eighth had only a 11% chance to be a hit, and it was.

Toughest out: Kevin Kiermaier’s line out in the eighth had an attached .580 xBA.

Longest hit: Yoán Moncada’s two-run, dead-center blast in the fifth traveled 423 feet!

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Magic Number: 28 to 23

Lately, Lucas Giolito has thrown more sliders than changeups; this time to a tune of a 28 to 23 margin. He recorded eight whiffs on the slider and six with the change.

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My end froze, so I’m going to pretend this is my first message: hello nd good luck!!! dudefoPizza dudefoPizza dudefoPizza As DW once said, “

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South Side Sox Roll Call

It was a huge, 374-comment night here, and baines03 just barely bested seven11 for comments:

Pointerbabe had a quick quip to earn top rec honors tonight, with six: