Giolito, White Sox run out of gas against Tigers
Heading into Tuesday night's game against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field, the White Sox were playing their best baseball of the season and Lucas Giolito was on his best run as a starting pitcher.
They both stumbled.
Winners of 8 of their last 11 after rallying to take the series opener against Detroit Monday afternoon, the Sox also had moved into third place in the AL Central.
"I think everybody's enjoying what they're doing, for sure," manager Rick Renteria said. "I think we are as coaches, I think the players are enjoying going out there and competing and starting to have success, putting both sides of the game together a little bit."
After an 8-3 loss to the Tigers, the Sox are back in a tie for third with Detroit.
Giolito was 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA over his last 4 starts heading into Tuesday, but he didn't have it against the Tigers.
Lasting just 1⅓ innings, which matched his career low, the 24-year-old righty gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks. Giolito threw 41 pitches in the second inning before being pulled.
"I felt really good going into the game," he said. "I felt my stuff was really good. They had some really good at-bats and I let the game speed up on me. I just washed it off in the shower. Move on to the next one."
Bullpen makeover:
The White Sox have been bringing up young relief pitchers in waves the past two weeks.
Ryan Burr got the first call from Class AAA Charlotte on Aug, 22, and minor-league teammates Ian Hamilton, Caleb Frare and Aaron Bummer soon followed.
On Tuesday, the Sox purchased Jose Ruiz's contract from AA Birmingham.
After the Barons' season ended on Monday, the 23-year-old Ruiz thought he was done pitching for the year.
"I was ready to pack and go home," the native Venezuelan said through a translator. "When they gave me the news, I just was excited. I'm just glad with God for this opportunity and he's the one that guided me through this process."
Claimed off waivers from the Padres in December of 2017, Ruiz was a combined 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA and 16 saves with Birmingham and high A Winston-Salem. The right-hander didn't allow a run over 11 innings in August.
"I have been working really hard this season in the minors just with that goal in mind, to reach the majors," Ruiz said. "Now that I'm here, I'm very excited."
Cubs connection:
Outfielder Eloy Jimenez and starting pitcher Dylan Cease, the two key prospects acquired from the Cubs in last season's Jose Quintana trade, were voted White Sox minor-league player and pitcher of the month.
Jimenez, who won't be joining the Sox's roster until 2019, batted .336 with 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 16 RBI with Class AA Charlotte over the final month.
Cease was 1-0 with a 0.51 ERA in 4 starts with AA Birmingham before being shut down for the season on Aug. 24.