White Sox 4, Pirates 2: Giolito Departs Early, Sox top Bucs
Despite Lucas Giolito leaving the game early with a hamstring issue, the White Sox picked up their fourth win in their last five contests.
About last night…
The last time the Pittsburgh Pirates came to town on an August evening, and Lucas Giolito was on the mound, the incumbent White Sox staff ace twirled his first career no-hitter against the Bucs.
A repeat performance wasn’t in the books for Giolito on Tuesday night, but he pitched well enough to help the White Sox win the series opener with Pittsburgh before he left the game with a hamstring issue in the fifth inning.
“The sensation I felt on the pitch wasn’t as intense and painful as in 2019,” Giolito said. “So that gives me some confidence that hopefully it won’t be very serious and I'll come back pretty soon … It came out of nowhere. I've been feeling really good, strong. Legs, arm, everything’s been feeling good. So, it’s unfortunate.”
Giolito last dealt with a hamstring issue in 2019 when he missed roughly two weeks after being scratched from an April 18 start against the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Giolito allowed two runs on three hits while striking out five and allowing four walks across 4.1 innings of work and left the game with a no-decision.
Yasmani Grandal and Jose Abreu continued their recent hot streaks with solo home runs in the second and third inning, respectively, but the Pirates would even score at two-a-piece with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The White Sox reclaimed the lead in the home half of the sixth when Jose Abreu scored on a bases-loaded walk to Brian Goodwin, and then Leury Garcia plated Eloy Jiménez on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.
In the victory, Michael Kopech earned the win in relief and was a part of 4.2 innings of scoreless relief by the White Sox bullpen. Kopech was back to being untouchable, mowing down a pair of Pirates on strikes in a perfect inning. Liam Hendriks collected his 30th save of the season.
This and that…
Adam Engel is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend when the White Sox depart for Kansas City.
Billy Hamilton will be activated on Wednesday when the rosters expand to 28.
Tim Anderson will miss tonight’s finale with Pittsburgh with leg/hamstring soreness that he has been dealing with for the last two weeks. Anderson last played against the Cubs on Saturday and will have had five full days of rest and treatment by Friday when the White Sox open their weekend tilt with the Royals.
The White Sox magic number to clinch the AL Central stands at 22 this morning.
On Deck
The White Sox are back in action tonight when they finish their brief two-game series with Pittsburgh at Guaranteed Rate Field before preparing for a six-game road trip that begins in Kansas City on Friday and ends in Boston Oakland next Thursday.
Tonights Probables
Carlos Rodón (CWS): 10-5, 2.43 ERA, 2.70 FIP, 35.1 K%, 6.7 BB%
Max Kranick (PIT): 1-2, 7.20 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 18.9 K%, 8.4 BB%
Viewing Information
7:10 PM (CT)
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: ESPN 1000
Featured Photo: Ron Vesely/Getty Images