Giolito K's 13 in Sox combined shutout

CHICAGO -- A few firsts existed for the White Sox behind their 9-0 victory over Detroit on Thursday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Lucas Giolito won a home start for the first time since June 30, 2019, having gone 0-7 with a 6.04 ERA in his past 10 on Chicago’s South Side. The White Sox swept a four-game series for the first time since July 23-26, 2015, at Cleveland, and for the first time at home since July 26-29, 2010, against Seattle.

• Box score

Chicago also swept four from the Tigers for the first time since Sept. 1-4, 2005 ... and that particular season turned out pretty well for the White Sox. Thursday’s victory, the team’s fifth in a row moving into a weekend series at Wrigley Field, also marked the first time the White Sox have been four games above .500 this year at 15-11 and the first time they have been that far over .500 since they were 13-9 on April 29, 2017.

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That 2017 team finished 67-95 in the first year of the rebuild. This '20 squad is a far better product, with the beginning phase of the rebuild behind the White Sox.

“We knew Day 1 of Spring Training looking around the locker room, seeing the young guys, how far we’ve come, seeing the new faces, that it’s about time for us to turn that corner,” Giolito said. “The more we’re playing together even though this is a weird, short year, we are coming together; we’re getting closer.

“I wouldn’t think it would be possible because we’re already so close, but we’re getting closer on and off the field. We’re letting it happen, going out there and having a lot of fun when we’re playing.”

Giolito shut out the Tigers for seven innings, striking out a career-high-tying 13 for his eighth career double-digit strikeout performance and recording 21 swinging strikes, per Statcast, among his 110 pitches. His one tough spot came in the fourth, when Detroit loaded the bases with one out, but Giolito fanned Niko Goodrum and Christin Stewart to end the threat.

Having allowed eight first-inning runs over five previous starts, Giolito made it a point of focus to come out sharp at the outset against the Tigers by putting greater focus on his pregame warmup and bullpen. The White Sox ace threw with outstanding rhythm and tempo with James McCann behind the plate, even dealing nine consecutive changeups called by McCann at one point in the seventh.

“Honestly, the tempo and rhythm was the big thing I talked to him about today,” McCann said. “I said, 'I don’t care about anything else, but I want you to come out aggressive. Have the tempo you like, and let’s work and get after it.'”

“We’re obviously really close so the communication is always there,” Giolito said. “So throwing to Mac, it’s a good thing for me for sure.”

The White Sox scored three in the first off of Spencer Turnbull and added one in the fourth via Tim Anderson’s solo home run. During nine games played in August, Anderson is hitting .417 with 15 runs scored, five home runs, eight RBIs and three stolen bases. The White Sox have a 7-2 record during that stretch.

José Abreu doubled home two runs and Eloy Jiménez hit a two-run homer during a four-run eighth as Chicago outscored the Tigers, 31-9, in this sweep.

The White Sox had just eight total hits over their first 18 innings played against the Cardinals during this seven-game homestand. But since the fifth inning of Sunday’s contest, when Chicago went back-to-back-to-back-to-back, it has scored 37 runs on 50 hits and launched 16 homers in 36 innings. The White Sox will bring that offensive prowess against the Cubs this weekend.

"As far as talent, I don’t think we’re lacking there compared to that team anymore,” said Giolito, of facing the National League Central leaders. “There is that certain level of pride playing that team from the North Side. I’m looking forward to this series. I think this weekend will be a lot of fun.”

“Any time we've ever gone in there, we've always felt confident to try to complete a task,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “In the end, the guys just have to perform and do what they do, execute and give ourselves a chance to win ballgames. I hope to have a little bit more fun, for sure.”