Sox' Giolito leaves game with hamstring tightness

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Just as the White Sox offense was nearing full strength, its starting pitching took another hit.

Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito left the White Sox’ 4-2 win against the Pirates on Tuesday with left hamstring tightness, the team announced.

“We'll get it really checked tomorrow and do whatever we have to do," White Sox manager Tony La Russa said, adding that it was too soon to know if Giolito will have to miss a start.

Giolito also didn’t offer a specific timetable for his recovery.

“I can’t see it being very long,” he said.

Coaches and an athletic trainer came out to check on Giolito mid-at-bat in the fifth inning, after his fourth pitch to Pirates third baseman Wilmer Difo. Giolito threw a warmup pitch and then walked off the field with pitching coach Ethan Katz and head athletic trainer James Kruk.

Giolito sustained the injury earlier in the inning, soon after Ben Gamel, the third Pirates batter of the frame, hit a swinging bunt. Giolito fielded it and fired to first, too late to throw out Gamel.

“The slip was awkward, but I didn’t feel anything,” Giolito I didn’t feel any sort of injury or anything like that on that play. And then I threw one pitch fine and then the next pitch after was when I felt that little tug there.”

The feeling reminded him of the hamstring injury that kept him out for two weeks in 2019. 

“But it wasn’t as intense,” he said. “So, that’s why I wanted to keep going and see how it felt. But it just didn’t want to hold strong, so that’s why I came out of the game.

In the interim, Pirates second baseman Hoy Park scored on a wild pitch, Giolito’s second of the inning. He left the game with one out in the fifth and was charged with two runs.

“It came out of nowhere,” Giolito said of the injury. “I've been feeling really good, strong. Legs, arm, everything’s been feeling good. So, it’s unfortunate.

Earlier in the day, the team announced it had placed right-hander Lance Lynn on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation. Lynn is expected to only miss one start. 

“It’s important for guys to get rested up and feel 100 percent going into the playoffs,” Giolito said. “So, Lance just needs a little bit of time. I’ll probably need just a little bit of time here and get right back to it.

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