Giolito has a ‘terrible’ outing
DETROIT — Lucas Giolito was short and to the point.
“It was pretty terrible,” he said of his five-inning performance in the White Sox’ 6-5 loss to the Tigers on Sunday. “I gave up six runs. I’m putting our team in a very poor position to win the game, so I’m not doing my job.”
The Sox (49-34) lost their second in a row to the Tigers (38-46) and the series along with it, but not before getting within one run in the ninth after Jose Abreu’s 14th homer, a three-run shot against left-hander Gregory Soto. Abreu, who has 61 RBI, might be out of a prolonged slump, going 8-for-21 in his last five games, including five hits in his last two.
Giolito allowed 10 hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out five and threw 102 pitches. He did get 22 swinging strikes, his second-highest total of the season. He had trouble locating his changeup, a bread-andbutter pitch.
“There is something missing with command and putting guys away,” he said. “I gave up a decent amount of two-strike hits even in 0-2 counts, so I have to look at it and pick it apart.”
Right-hander Jose Ruiz left in the seventh with a trainer because manager Tony La Russa saw him falling off the mound. But concerns about a sore knee Ruiz has dealt with were alleviated, and Ruiz should be available Monday, La Russa said.
Tim Anderson had three singles and scored two runs, and third baseman Jake Burger singled, walked and tripled.
Walking wounded
Yoan Moncada, who missed the Tigers’ series with soreness in his right hand, hit in the cage Sunday and should play Monday against the host Twins, La Russa said. Catcher Yasmani Grandal (calf ) might play after missing the last 2½ games.
Outfielder Adam Engel is expected to come off the injured list Monday. Burger, who started all three games with Moncada ailing, had four hits but could be the odd man out to make room for Engel.
Katz not happy about ejection
Pitching coach Ethan Katz still was upset a day after getting ejected by umpire Tom Hallion for yelling “That’s not up” from the dugout Saturday. Katz said Hallion missed two calls when reliever Ryan Burr made good pitches that would have pulled the Sox out of a jam.
“He has to be better than that,” Katz said. The only other time Katz has been ejected was as a player, he said.
Keuchel not happy about positioning
After giving up an inside-the-park homer on a line drive that bounced in front of and the past center fielder Billy Hamilton on Saturday, Dallas Keuchel said he would like to see outfielders play more shallow when he pitches. He knows outfielders don’t play shallow to prevent extra-base hits based on data, but “I don’t understand how some of these numbers translate to playing deep, and I’ve been having a problem with that for years,” he said.
La Russa said Sunday that the coaching staff would discuss it with Keuchel, who said pitchers have the freedom to move infielders as they see fit but not outfielders.
“They have the ability to review, discuss and if they have a point to make, especially in the infield, we’ll likely go with them,” La Russa said. “The outfield is a little different story. It’s well-documented that you play an outfield shallower, balls that get over their heads are extra bases. They play a little deeper, balls are singles, and that’s a lot less damaging.”