Another strong start for Giolito, Chicago White Sox rotation
When asked what has changed for the surging Chicago White Sox, manager Rick Renteria started with the rotation.
"Our starting rotation has settled down," Renteria said. "They've gotten better."
Heading into Thursday night's game against the Red Sox, White Sox starters had a 2.11 ERA over the last six games.
Lucas Giolito took the mound against Boston and lowered the staff ERA to 2.02 after allowing 1 run over 6⅓ innings.
Exiting the game with a 4-0 lead and in line for the win, Giolito had to settle for a no-decision after the Red Sox quickly tied the game against reliever Jeanmar Gomez.
Boston, baseball's best hitting team, continued pounding the White Sox's bullpen and won 9-4 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
While throwing a career-high 113 pitches, Giolito had a no-hitter going until Ian Kinsler singled with two outs in the fifth inning.
"The first couple of innings, I didn't have the best feeling," Giolito said. "I was missing up a lot, but then I got locked in. It was a good day."
It has been a good run for the Sox's rotation and Giolito, who is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA over his last 4 starts. Throwing a two-seam changeup has helped the 24-year-old righty turn his season around.
"It moves more and the more I throw it, the better it feels," said Giolito, who leaned on the pitch to match his season high of 8 strikeouts.
The White Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on Avisail Garcia's 2-run homer and Matt Davidson's RBI single.
Garcia made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
Fall ball:
Outfielders Luis Robert and Luis Basabe, infielder Laz Rivera and pitchers Zack Burdi, Zach Thompson and Tanner Banks are the six White Sox prospects scheduled to play for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.
The Sox wanted to get more playing time for Robert, who has been limited to 46 games this season because of two thumb injuries.
Burdi, the 26th overall pick in the 2016 draft, had Tommy John surgery 13 months. He returned to competitive action on Aug. 4 with the Arizona League White Sox.
Health scare:
Manager Rick Renteria is happy to be back in the dugout after missing four games while being checked out for lightheadedness. He rejoined the Sox last Friday in Detroit.
"I'm doing fine," Renteria said. "Thanks for asking. I was trying to watch everything from afar and really was concerned with a lot of things they were doing with me. I'm thankful that I'm doing well."