White Sox survive Twins, Giolito bags 11th win

[July 01, 2019]    Alex Colome navigated a fielding error and a wild pitch in the ninth inning to complete a four-out save and help Lucas Giolito become the first 11-game winner in the major leagues, as the host Chicago White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Sunday afternoon.

Moncada smacked a two-run home run, and Giolito pitched five shutout innings before a lengthy rain delay as Chicago claimed a series victory in the three-game set.

Nelson Cruz and Miguel Sano homered for Minnesota, which nearly erased a 4-0 deficit after six innings.

On a day he was named an American League All-Star, Giolito cruised, allowing only one hit -- a ground-ball single by Jonathan Schoop with one out in the third -- while walking none and striking out four. He threw 46 of his 68 pitches for strikes.

Giolito (11-2) retired the last eight hitters he faced before storms entered the area, prompting a weather delay of two hours, 54 minutes. The bullpens for both clubs took over once play resumed.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead on Moncada's two-run home run in the third inning, as the switch-hitting third baseman connected from the right side of the plate. James McCann and Jon Jay delivered RBI singles in a two-run sixth that put the White Sox ahead 4-0.

Minnesota responded with a three-run seventh, getting a solo home run from Cruz and a pinch-hit, two-run shot off the bat of Sano.

Making his major league debut, Australian-born Twins left-hander Lewis Thorpe scattered two runs and five hits in five innings with two walks and seven strikeouts in a losing effort.

Among those backing Thorpe (0-1) in the Guaranteed Rate Field stands were his parents, Lyn and Ross, who scrambled to travel from Melbourne, Australia, to Chicago this weekend to watch their son's feat.

"We're super excited," Lyn Thorpe told Fox Sports North during the game telecast. "The baseball gods all lined up for us. We thought we'd come. We couldn't get a flight Friday, so we took the first flight out Saturday. We just thought we'd come and celebrate with him."

Yolmer Sanchez had two hits for Chicago. Colome earned his 18th save in 19 opportunities.

--Field Level Media

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