Giolito shines as White Sox blank light-hitting Indians 2-0
CLEVELAND (AP) — Lucas Giolito carried a shutout into the eighth inning and James McCann stayed with hot with an RBI single, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 2-0 win over the light-hitting, light-scoring Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
Giolito (3-1) didn't have to work hard against the Indians, who came in batting an AL-low .213 — 13 points lower than the next closest team, and 62 behind the league-leading Houston Astros.
The Indians wasted a strong outing by starter Jefry Rodriguez (0-2). Cleveland has been shut out twice in three games and scored just one run in the past 27 innings.
Giolito, who allowed just three hits, retired the leadoff hitter to start what became an eventful eighth.
The right-hander was lifted after 105 pitches for reliever Jace Fry, who got the second out before the Indians loaded the bases on a single, double and walk.
Chicago closer Alex Colomé came in and appeared to get two quick strikes on Carlos Santana. But third base umpire Marty Foster ruled Santana checked his swing on a 0-1 pitch, and ejected manager Rick Renteria, who came out of the dugout and argued along with waving his arms in disgust.
Colomé then struck out Santana, freezing him on a 3-2 pitch that appeared low. The right-hander then worked the ninth for his seventh save in seven tries.
The Indians managed just five hits — three by Francisco Lindor, and two by Jason Kipnis.
McCann delivered a run-scoring single in the sixth off Rodriguez, who probably deserved a better outcome but his teammates are showing no signs of emerging from lengthy slump.
MCann is batting .422 with nine RBIs in his past 11 games.
The Indians got a runner to third in the fourth and put two on in the sixth, but Giolito struck out Santana to keep the Indians off the scoreboard.
Giolito improved to 3-0 on the road, and appears to have fully recovered from a pulled left hamstring that landed him on the disabled list last month.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Yoán Moncada's RBI single off Rodriguez, who worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth to keep Cleveland close.
Chicago was in position for a big inning, but Rodriguez got bat-flipping Tim Anderson to bounce into a forceout at the plate before striking out Sanchez to end the threat.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Kelvin Herrera (lower back stiffness) was unavailable for the second straight game. He allowed a career-high five runs in 2/3 of an inning Sunday against Boston.
Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger (back strain) continues to make solid progress toward a return. He's throwing two straight days and taking a day off. Manager Terry Francona said Clevinger, who has been out since April 7, should be throwing bullpens in the "not-too-distant future."
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Reynaldo López (2-4, 6.69 ERA) is 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA in three career starts against Cleveland. He hasn't won on the road since Sept. 15 against Baltimore.
Indians: RHP Shane Bieber (2-1, 3.16 ERA) pitched a career-high 7 2/3 innings against Seattle in his last start Friday. As a rookie last season, he went 1-0 and didn't allow an earned run in 12 2/3 innings against Chicago.
