Giolito rewards Renteria’s confidence
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lucas
Giolito was a determined pitcher heading into his fifth start of 2018.
“It’s about going out there with confidence no matter what’s going on,” he said. White Sox manager Rick Ren
teria wasn’t dismayed by Giolito’s 0- 3 record and 9.00 ERA.
“Our expectations are that he has a solid ballgame for us today,” Renteria said.
Maybe they both knew something the rest of us didn’t because Giolito’s performance in a 6- 3 victory against the Royals was just what he and Renteria saw coming. He got two key outs in the sixth, allowed two runs in all and buckled down repeatedly on a night when the ball was really carrying.
The key inning was the sixth. With runners at the corners and no one out, Giolito fooled Lucas Duda with a changeup and popped him up right in front of home plate. Next came a revenge match with former Cub Jorge Soler, who had drilled a two- run home run in the fourth. Giolito caught him looking with a slider for strike three. Giolito’s night over, Luis Avilan came on and retired Alex Gordon for the third out.
“Yeah, I definitely wanted to get [ Soler],” Giolito said. “On the home run, the fastball ran up and in. That happens. It’s baseball; guys are going to hit homers. I was able to bounce back.”
Will one good start beget another?
“A big step in the right direction, being able to throw most of my pitches for strikes,” Giolito said. “It’s something to build off for the next one.”
Making moves
The Sox outrighted Class AAA Charlotte first baseman Casey
Gillaspie on Thursday, decreasing the 40- man roster to 39. Gillaspie, a switch hitter, struggled at Charlotte, batting .214/. 263/. 229 with 29 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances. A 2014 Rays first- round pick, Gillaspie was acquired by the Sox last summer in a trade for left- hander
Dan Jennings. The Sox likely will call up a pitcher for their double- header Saturday, and the move opens room on the 40- man roster.
The team also acquired Class AAA outfielder Todd Cunning
ham from the Pirates for a player to be named, according to reports. A career .207 hitter in parts of three seasons with the Angels and Braves, Cunningham, 29, batted .130 in 29 plate appearances.
No waiting
Yoan Moncada led off with a line- drive homer off Royals righthander Jakob Junis. It was the second consecutive leadoff homer for the 22- year- old second baseman, making him the fourth player in Sox history to accomplish the feat in back- to- back games. Adam Eaton did it in 2015, Alejandro De Aza in 2013 and Kenny Lofton in 2002. Contributing: Daryl Van Schouwen