White Sox beat Guardians 2-1, gain split in 4-game series originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Lucas Giolito pitched one-run ball into the seventh inning and the Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland 2-1 on Wednesday night after Guardians' starter Aaron Civale exited after one inning because of a sore right wrist.
Giolito (6-5) yielded an unearned run in 6 1/3 innings and extended his dominance of Cleveland hitters. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 0.83 ERA in 10 starts against Cleveland since May 17, 2019.
Giolito's strong outing, along with RBIs by Jose Abreu and Andrew Vaughn, helped the White Sox earn a split of the four-game series between the teams battling for second place in the AL Central Division.
Civale allowed two hits and threw 20 pitches in the scoreless first inning. Civale's injury forced manager Terry Francona to use five relievers, one day after the teams played a doubleheader.
Eli Morgan and Enyel De Los Santos each pitched two scoreless innings, but the White Sox got on the board in the sixth inning, scoring two runs off Sam Hentges (2-2) in the sixth. A double by Abreu scored Yoan Moncada, who had drawn a leadoff walk. Vaughn followed with an RBI groundout.
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Liam Hendricks pitched the ninth and earned his 18th save in 21 chances.
Giolito retired the first batter in the seventh and was lifted after Franmil Reyes singled and rookie Nolan Jones walked. Owen Miller hit into a fielder's choice. Miller was ruled out at first, but the call was reversed after a replay review.
Second baseman Josh Harrison's fielding error on a ground ball by pinch-hitter Andres Gimenez allowed Reyes to score. Myles Straw grounded out to end the inning.
Civale missed a month earlier this season because of a left glute injury. The right-hander returned June 21 and was making his fifth start since coming off the injured list. Civale is 2-5 with a 6.17 ERA in 12 starts this season. He sprained the middle finger on his pitching hand last season and was out from June 21 to Sept 7.
Chicago's All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson remained in the game after being hit on the leg by Luis Robert's sharply hit grounder while running the bases in the seventh.
Left fielder Eloy Jimenez came up limping after catching Jose Ramirez's liner to end the sixth and was removed from the game with tightness in his right leg.
LOOKING AHEAD
Chicago begins a four-game series Thursday night against AL Central-leading Minnesota at Target Field. The White Sox haven't been over .500 since they were 22-21 on May 25, which has led to a stretch that manager Tony La Russa admitted hasn't been fun.
"We've got expectations for a reason," he said. "We've got talent."
La Russa believes his self-evaluation process as a manager never stops.
"If you're preaching accountability for the players, you better start with yourself," he said. "I think our record should be better, so I should manage better."
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: C Yasmani Grandal (back spasms) was 2 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter for Triple-A Charlotte on his rehab assignment Tuesday night. He was placed on the injured list June 13.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Johnny Cueto (3-4, 2.91 ERA) looks to go 4-0 lifetime against the Twins on Thursday. Chicago is 1-5 versus Minnesota this season.
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