Keeping emotions in check key for Chicago White Sox pitcher Giolito

Kevan Smith caught Lucas Giolito in April when the two were teammates at Class AAA Charlotte.

Smith and Giolito were reunited Sunday with the Chicago White Sox, and the catcher noticed a big difference in the pitcher.

"The biggest thing was his mound presence," Smith said. "That was one of the things that I personally thought that he just needed to work on and get better at, and he showed confidence, he showed perseverance. He battled through stuff without wearing his emotions on his face or looking up to the sky wondering why.

"He just got past it. I loved that about him."

When I saw Giolito pitch for Charlotte at Indianapolis in May, the 23-year-old righty labored through 4 innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 4 walks.

The mound presence that night was not good, and the Indy radio broadcast team mentioned Giolito's bad body language more than once.

Making his second start for the Sox on Sunday, Giolito kept his composure and was brilliant while pitching 7 scoreless innings against the Tigers.

The lone blip came with two outs in the seventh, when Giolito walked JaCoby Jones to load the bases.

"The only time I might have seen him get a little flustered or upset with himself was in the last inning of work that he had, when he missed the 3-2 count to load the bases," manager Rick Renteria said. "I think that was the only time I saw him discuss it with himself."

Giolito earned his first major-league win Sunday. If he's able to build off the outing, the White Sox's rotation of the future is going to have a front-end arm.

"I think what we're looking for him to do is do what he did (Sunday)," Renteria said. "Continually attack the zone, continue to mix in his pitches the way he did, effectively for strikes when he needs to. Just continue to eat up innings and outs."

And continue to keep his composure.

"It's a huge part of my game," said Giolito, who was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 6 games (4 starts) with the Washington Nationals last season. "I learned a lot about that last year, when I didn't have success in the big leagues, that you have to be able to know that as a starting pitcher you control the game.

"You need to be able to take that deep breathe when you need to. Make sure you are working at your pace and kind of dictate the game."

• Twitter: @ScotGregor

Scouting report

White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins at Target Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Tuesday and Thursday; WGN Wednesday

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Pitching matchups: The White Sox's James Shields (2-4) vs. Ervin Santana (13-7) Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.; Derek Holland (7-13) vs. Jose Berrios (11-6) Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.; Miguel Gonzalez (7-10) vs. Bartolo Colon (4-2) Thursday at 12:10 p.m.

At a glance: The White Sox played five home games against the Twins last week, going 3-2. Sox starters are 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA over the past six games. Right fielder Avisail Garcia is batting .460 (23-for-50) over his past 14 games. Jose Abreu hit his 35th double of the season Sunday, matching his career high. Tim Anderson has doubled in three straight games. Center fielder Byron Buxton hit 3 home runs for the Twins in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays.

Next: Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field, Friday-Sunday

- Scot Gregor