The White Sox have won game one of the Wild Card Round and can advance to the ALDS with a win tomorrow.
Lucas Giolito had a perfect game through six innings, and a pair of early homers by the Engel and Abreu, accompanied by a late insurance homer by Yasmani Grandal, gave the Sox the four runs they needed to get the job done.
W: Lucas Giolito (1-0)| L: Jesus Luzardo (0-1) | S: Alex Colome: 1
Notable Performances
Lucas Giolito: 7 IP, 8 K, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB
That was the performance of a playoff ace. Lucas Gioito was incredible. He struck out eight and gave Don Larsen a scare, as he was close to becoming the second all-time pitcher to throw a playoff perfect game, going perfect through six. He ended up surrendering one run, but the bullpen, piggybacked by Bummer and Marshall, did an awesome job keeping his solid outing intact.
Tim Anderson: 3-for-4, 2B, run
Tim Anderson got the party started right away with a leadoff single to start the ball game. He later would add another base knock, coming around to score on Abreu’s 2-run homer. He may have finished second in the batting race, but he’s off to a hot start in the postseason.
Jose Abreu: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R
MVP’s have MVP moments and performances in big games. Abreu did just that. He launched his 20th homer of the season, also reaching 62 RBI’s. He mentioned playing with his mom and her pride on his mind, and it clearly worked today for Abreu.
Adam Engel: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2B
Adam Engel became the first White Sox player to homer in their first career Postseason at-bat after homering off Jesus Luzardo in the second inning. Engel would add a double in the fourth inning that drove Luzardo from the game. Engel has been crucial to the White Sox in a limited role this year and certainly earned this Game 1 start in RF.
Moment of the Game
Jose Abreu’s third-inning homer is what gave the Sox some distance between themselves and the A’s. This homer is today’s “Moment of the Game”.
Player of the Game
The Player of the Game is Lucas Giolito. For him to go out and do what he did in just his first-ever postseason game is incredible.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow the Sox can advance to the ALDS with a victory. It’ll be postseason veteran Dallas Keuchel against Chris Bassitt in game number two of three. The first pitch is set for 2 PM CT on ESPN.
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