Lucas Giolito improved in some ways, but not where it counted.
Giolito managed to throw six innings without either walking or hitting a batter. After issuing three walks en route to seven runs over the course of four outs his last time up, he accomplished Job One.
But it didn't solve all his woes. He entered the game with a 7.53 ERA, and he left the game with a 7.53 ERA. The Indians tagged him for five runs on nine hits, including a couple of homers. They also only struck out three times, so this effort doesn't do a whole lot for Giolito's peripherals.
His command was ugly early, as the Indians greeted him with four consecutive one-out hits in the first inning, which scored two runs. It could've been five hits and three runs, but Tim Anderson made a tremendous ranging play to his right to rob Francisco Lindor of a single to start the inning. Tack on solo shots by Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez around a Lindor RBI single, and you get your five runs.
At least Giolito was beaten by a good offense this time. Lindor, Brantley and Ramirez went 7-for-13 at the top of the order, and they all look like All-Stars. The question is whether this kind of stuff is adequate to beat lesser teams, and that remains unclear.
There isn't a whole lot to say about the offense. Tim Anderson's RBI single represented the only offense through eight innings, and they didn't have the opportunity for much more against Mike Clevinger, who allowed just one run over 6⅔ innings. The White Sox did score a couple runs in the bottom of the ninth, including a solo shot by Daniel Palka, so the Indians couldn't get out of the game without warming Cody Allen. That's not much of a victory.
Bullet points:
*Bruce Rondon saved Aaron Bummer some points on his ERA by inheriting a bases loaded situation and getting out of it with a strikeout and a popout.
*Yolmer Sanchez hit his sixth triple of the year when Melky Cabrera couldn't hold onto the ball after hitting the wall.
Record: 16-36 | Box score
