*Photo from NBC Sports*
CWS leads series 1-0
The Chicago White Sox turned to their ace, Lucas Giolito, in a big game one against the Oakland Athletics. Giolito starred. Giolito carred a perfect game into the 7th inning, the offense hit 3 homers, and the White Sox outlasted the Athletics by a 4-1 score. Although he lost the perfect game, Giolito's performance was eerily reminiscent of his no hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 25.
The White Sox started the scoring in the second inning, when Adam Engel hit a solo homer to left field, the first homer of the 2020 postseason leaguewide. In the 3rd, the White Sox extended the lead on a two run homer for Jose Abreu, making it 3-0 White Sox. It stayed that way until the 8th inning, when Yasmani Grandal hit a solo homer to make it a 4-0 lead. The A's were able to get on the board in the bottom of the 8th, when Mark Canha scored on a fielders choice to make it 4-1. The score would hold from there.
Giolito was the star of the show for the White Sox, throwing 7 shutout innings. Giolito allowed just 3 baserunners, on two hits and one walk. He also struck out 8 hitters. Giolito said after the game that ''It was a different feel though because throwing a perfect game, no-hitter is a great personal accomplishment, but we're in the playoffs, the goal is to win the game, for me it was all about I'm going to give the team the best possible chance to come out on top after nine innings.''
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said of Giolito's performance that it was ''Unreal. Unreal to watch. Unreal to be behind him, he put the work in. When you set yourself apart to put the work in and want to be a superstar, you want to be that dominant. The work is showing. Happy for him and hopefully he can keep it up and continue to grow as a player and as a person. He's our guy. I expect nothing but that from him.''
Jesus Luzardo was hit with the loss for Oakland, lasting just 3 1/3 innings. Luzardo gave up 3 runs on 6 hits, striking out 5 hitters. Joakim Soria was responsible for Grandal's solo homer in the 8th. The A's also sent JB Wendelken, Yusmeiro Petit, and Jake Diekman to the mound in relief. Oakland's backs are against the wall now, as they are in danger of another early playoff elimination, as has been the case many of the last 10 years.
Oakland manager Bob Melvin said after the game that ''We have no choice tomorrow. That's the way we've been here for a while now. We wanted a series. We lost the first game of it. Now it's time for us to respond tomorrow, we're going to have to do more offensively. We can't score one run and think that we're going to win tomorrow and put that much pressure on the starter.''
The series continues on Wednesday, with the White Sox looking to advance as Dallas Keuchel takes the mound. Oakland looks to force a game 3 with Chris Bassitt getting the start.
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