Lucas Giolito Still Somehow Pitched a Gem After Not Knowing the Time of White Sox Game
By Jerry Trotta
Everybody knows how imperative pre-game routines are for starting pitchers. A scheduled bullpen, long toss, and jog are all part of their ever-important warm-up.
But on Tuesday night, Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito wasn't aware of the early 6:40 p.m. start time against the Kansas City Royals. The 24-year-old thought first pitch was scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
As a result, Giolito didn't hit the field until 15 minutes before the start of the game and was unable to get through his full warm-up. Now you would think that would equate to the right-hander being roughed up and exiting early, right? Well, that was anything but the case, as Giolito defied the odds and tossed a gem.
Lucas Giolito said he didn’t realize it was a 6:40pm start. He didn’t come out onto the field until 6:24pm and didn’t get through his full warm-up. As such, the first inning was a little rough. The rest of the game, he was warmed up for it
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) May 29, 2019
"I didn't warm up to my normal schedule," Giolito told reporters after the game. "I wasn't paying attention to the start time of the second game and so I was a little late. That first inning was like a continuation of my warmup, I guess you could say. Not fully locked in from the get-go."
Lucas Giolito is now 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his last five starts. The only White Sox pitcher over the last dozen seasons to go 5-0 with a sub-1.25 ERA over a five start span is Chris Sale. Sale did that in both 2012 and 2016(three different five-start spans).@EliasSports
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 29, 2019
The right-hander gave up a three-run homer to Alex Gordon in the first inning, then retired 22 of his final 24 batters. Lucas struck out 10 Royals, which matched his career high, allowed just three hits over eight innings and improved to 6-0 in his last eight outings.
His start had all the makings to be an utter disaster, but when you're hot, you're hot and Giolito has been feeling himself in the month of May.