Giolito guides White Sox to win in opener vs. A's

[September 30, 2020]  Making his postseason debut, Giolito retired the first 18 batters he faced until Tommy La Stella lashed a single up the middle to lead off the seventh inning and break up the perfect-game bid.

Giolito (1-0), who threw a no-hitter against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25, became just the fifth pitcher in major-league history to take a perfect game into the seventh inning of a postseason game.

The 26-year-old California native took a shutout and four-run lead into the eighth but was pulled after he walked Mark Canha and allowed a single to Jake Lamb.

Right-hander Evan Marshall got two outs, allowing a run on a Ramon Laureano fielder's choice, before allowing a Sean Murphy single that put two on with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate.

Lefty Aaron Bummer came on and preserved the 4-1 lead by getting La Stella to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.

Closer Alex Colome worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Giolito was charged with one run on two hits in his seven-plus innings. He walked one and struck out eight.

The White Sox provided their ace with an early lead when Adam Engel homered off A's starter Jesus Luzardo (0-1) with one out in the second.

Jose Abreu added a two-run shot in the third off Luzardo and Yasmani Grandal hit a solo homer off Joakim Soria in the eighth.

Grandal served as the designated hitter after Eloy Jimenez was scratched before the game because of a sprained foot.

White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) walks onto the field before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox led the AL in home runs during the regular season with 96.

Luzardo was pulled one out into the fourth after he allowed three runs and six hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Tim Anderson had three hits, while Engel and Abreu added two apiece for the White Sox, who are making their first postseason appearance since 2008.

The loss was Oakland's sixth straight in postseason play.

White Sox left-hander Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 1.99) and A's righty Chris Bassitt (5-2, 2.29) are the scheduled starters in Game 2 as Chicago looks to advance from the best-of-three series.

--Field Level Media

[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.