The White Sox opened a two-game series Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. ChiSox ace Lucas Giolito, who has struggled this season, pitched a 101 pitch no-hitter. A 4th inning walk was the only blemish in the way of him recording a perfect game. Before Tuesday’s no-no, the right-hander was 2-2 with an ERA of just under 4.00. Giolito struck out 13 Pirates batters, Tuesday night, in the White Sox 4-0 victory.
Giolito’s no-hitter is the 19th in White Sox franchise history. The first one since Philip Humber’s on April 19, 2012. It was also the first no-hitter of 2020. The team’s identity this season has been overwhelming offensively and the long ball. Hopefully, Giolito’s performance on Tuesday night will rub off on the rest of the pitching staff.
On Monday Jose Abreu, the White Sox veteran first baseman was named A.L. Player of the Week. After a week that may have been the best of his MLB career. Beginning Monday the 17th through Sunday the 23rd, Abreu went 16-30, with seven home runs, 15 runs batted in, nine runs scored and three doubles. With so many extra-base hits, plus a couple of walks sprinkled in, Abreu also posted a staggering 1.896 OPS.
The bulk of Abreu’s power production came during his historic weekend series against the Cubs, in which the pale hose took the three-game series. The best was his late-game solo shot after the previous pitch was up and in and almost hit the right-handed Abreu. Abreau set two White Sox home run records during the series at Wrigley Field. The first for his six total home runs in the series, and the second for hitting a home run in four consecutive plate appearances. A feat last accomplished in the Major Leagues by Mookie Betts in 2016.
Abreu led MLB in home runs and RBI’s for the week. His .533 batting average was also good for the top spot in the A.L. Abreu’s power explosion also pushed him to the top of the American League leaderboard for home runs and RBI’s for the season. This is the fifth time Abreu has been named Player of the Week.
The White Sox as a team sits at 18-12, at their official halfway point. They trail the division-leading Twins by just 1.5 games. The White Sox are home for four more games of five-game homestand this week. They host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday followed by three games against division rivals, the Royals for three. But many are looking ahead to next week when they play a three-game series on the road against the previously mentioned Twins.
Hopefully, Abreu and the rest of the pale hose’s hot bats continued to carry this team.
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