For seven innings everything was going the way of the White Sox, especially Lucas Giolito.
The 24-year-old pitcher had one of the best starts of his career Friday at the Tampa Bay Rays, but it wasn't enough for a win. The only run Giolito gave up came in the eighth inning after he gave up a leadoff double which later resulted in a run.
The Rays tied the game in that inning and it later went into extra innings. The White Sox won 3-2 in 10 innings. Regardless, for the White Sox, 2018 has definitely not been about wins as much as developing players.
Giolito hasn't shown a lot of positives in his first full season in the majors, but is showing signs of turning a corner. Friday's outing included 7-plus innings with one run allowed on two hits and three walks.
Giolito struck out six, including this nasty slider.
The last time out for Giolito wasn't a start to remember. He gave up five runs on nine hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. However, even including that start, Giolito's last five have shown progress.
Giolito has a 3.19 ERA in his last five starts with 23 strikeouts in 31 innings. He has allowed 21 hits and 14 walks in that stretch.
MLB
It's somewhat incredible that a run like that could only lower his season ERA to 5.97. Still, White Sox fans will take any sign of hope they can get with Giolito given how poorly his year started.