Chicago White Sox: Lucas Giolito buried by walks in Game 2

After the White Sox 6-1 loss in Game 1, the Chicago White Sox needed Lucas Giolito to be in bully mode. Despite facing a menacing lineup, Giolito has had a good deal of success against the Houston Astros. The 2019 All-Star tossed two complete games in his previous two outings against the Astros which is not easy to do.

In 2019, he chucked a complete game at Minute Maid Park and then followed that up with a complete-game effort this season. That start came at home and he stifled the Astros allowing just one run on three hits.

It looked like it would be a repeat performance after Giolito struck out the side in the first inning on Friday afternoon. He became the first player in White Sox history to strike out the side in the first inning of a postseason game. He did this while wearing the same intense look he had when he was locked in against the Oakland A’s in the postseason last year.

However, Giolito was quickly done in by walks. The tall right-hander allowed more walks than hits, giving out five free passes. The Astros did an excellent job working counts as Giolito’s fastball command seemed to allude him.

Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox needed to be a little better in order to win.

The Astros first four runs were the product of walks. Kyle Tucker drove home a run on an RBI single after Giolito walked Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa. After a wild pitch advanced Correa to third, Chas McCormick drove him in with another run on a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth inning, Giolito walked Jose Altuve to lead off the inning then walked Alex Bregman a batter later. That was the end of Giolitos day as Tony La Russa came out to give him the hook. Both runs would come around to score.

Giolito finished the day by going 4.1 innings and allowing four earned runs, three hits, and five walks. He threw 92 pitches with only 52 going for strikes.It was disappointing, especially because Giolito was riding a hot streak. He had given up three runs or less in 13 of his last 14 starts.

After the game, Giolito tried to focus on the positives. Specifically, the first inning the White Sox had where they jumped to a 1-0 lead.

"“If we stay focused and stay focused and stay positive and stay confident, then we can pile on innings like that,” Giolito said. “So, that’s the plan going forward.”He also added “We’ve got to win three games in a row. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened this year.”"

If the White Sox want to crawl back in this series they may need to lean on Giolito once again. Rest assured he is chomping at the bit to get another opportunity.