CHICAGO -- The only thing missing from Zach Plesac’s special homecoming was securing his first big league win.

Plesac grew up in Crown Point, Ind., which is about 45 miles from Guaranteed Rate Field. And when he took the mound in the series finale against the White Sox on Sunday afternoon, all he could hear from the “home” crowd was people yelling his name. More than 100 friends and family members made the trip to watch Plesac’s second Major League start in the Tribe’s 2-0 loss to Chicago.

“It was extremely special,” Plesac said. “Before the game I heard a lot of people yelling my name and see my family [there], people I haven’t seen in a long time. I got to see them. So it was a special moment for me. It was awesome.”

• Box score

Just two months ago, Plesac was pitching for Double-A Akron. After six solid starts, he got the call to Triple-A Columbus. But when the Indians shipped Adam Plutko to Columbus to make room for another bullpen arm just three days before his scheduled start at Fenway Park, the club had to turn to Plesac, who had made just three trips to the rubber in Triple-A.

Clearly, he was ready.

His teammates haven’t been able to help him secure his first big league win just yet, but the 24-year-old has been stellar through his first two career starts. After a one-run outing through 5 1/3 innings in his debut in Boston on Tuesday, Plesac followed it with another one-run afternoon on four hits through seven innings with seven strikeouts in Chicago. His lone mistake came on a 2-0 fastball that Tim Anderson took deep to center field.

“I thought he was terrific,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I thought he actually used his breaking ball better today. They have more right-handed hitters in their lineup than Boston did. I thought the first time through the order you could see that his velocity kind of gets up on you a little bit. He fell behind a real dangerous hitter and paid for it. Other than that, you see he competes. He competes with his fastball. He doesn’t back down.

“It’s a shame we didn’t score because he pitched a great game,” Francona said. “I don’t care how old you are, he pitched a great game.”

With all the firsts out of the way, Plesac said he felt more comfortable heading to the rubber on Sunday, although the nerves and butterflies were still present. In his rainy debut in Boston, the righty threw mostly fastballs (55.8 percent) and changeups (29.1 percent), mixing in just a few curveballs (9.3 percent) and sliders (5.8 percent).

On Sunday, he threw mainly fastballs with a more even mix of offspeed pitches (14.6 percent sliders, 13.5 percent changeups, 8.3 percent curves).

“It was a little wet last outing and it was hard to get a feel for the offspeed like spin, curveball and sliders,” Plesac said. “I felt a lot better this time, being able to get out in front and just keep the ball down. I had a lot better feel this time than the last with the offspeed.”

Plesac achieves an Indians first

After recording his first Major League pick-off on Tuesday, the righty picked off another runner on Sunday, becoming the only Indians pitcher (since at least 1908) with pick-offs in his first two MLB appearances. The last big league hurler to do so was Geremi Gonzalez in 1997.

“I don’t know honestly,” Plesac said when asked where he learned his pick-off move. “I played infield when I was young, growing up. Even through college. Just staying athletic, I guess. Quick feet. [Pitching coach] Tony Arnold in Double-A Akron helped me capitalize on a better move just moving toward first instead of losing ground and it’s been working great for me.”

Giolito silences Indians’ bats

The Tribe’s offense was shut down by Chicago’s starter, Lucas Giolito, who allowed just five hits and struck out nine through 7 1/3 innings.

“He mixed [his pitches] pretty good today and attacked the strike zone early, man,” Indians outfielder Leonys Martin said. “I don’t really like to give credit to the pitcher, but he threw a pretty good game today.”