Sox prospect Giolito hopes to ride momentum of ‘special’ no-hitter

Top White Sox pitching prospect Lucas Giolito was looking for a boost this season.

A seven-inning no-hitter did the trick.

Giolito became the first Charlotte Knights pitcher to throw a no-hitter since 2013 after he shut out the Syracuse Chiefs 4-0 on Thursday. He threw 87 pitches, 50 for strikes, and walked three.

Giolito (2-5), who won for just the second time, struggled in his first six starts with the Class AAA affiliate.

“[The no-hitter] was special just with the way the year has gone,” Giolito said Friday. “It didn’t start the way I wanted to, [the] numbers haven’t been great. So it’s great to have a no-hitter under my belt, [my] first professional one, and just take that and work from there.

“I’m just going to keep working on the things I’ve been working on the past few weeks and hopefully string a few good [outings] together.”

Giolito, who was acquired from the Nationals in the Adam Eaton trade, had good command of his fastball for the first time this season.

“I think everybody was happy with his outing — I’m sure he was happy with his outing,” manager Rick Renteria said. “He’s a young man. He’s 22 years old, 6-foot-6. Everybody looks at a young man like that and you forget he’s still pretty raw in terms of experience. He has a high skill set. [Thursday], I think it showed.”

Giolito, who has a 5.44 ERA, hopes to ride the momentum.

“Any time you can go a few innings in a row without giving up a hit, you feel pretty good about yourself,” Giolito said. “So as far as confidence goes, I’m feeling much better. I can’t wait to get back on the mound in five days.”

Covey optimistic

Rookie right-hander Tyler Covey was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain.

Covey, who is 0-4 with a 8.12 ERA in eight starts, left his start Tuesday against the Diamondbacks after 2⅓ innings.

He hopes to have a short stint on the DL.

“Once my body feels good, I’ll do some more activity and just go day by day and see it how it feels,” Covey said.

Roster moves

Top Sox prospect Yoan Moncada was activated off the seven-day disabled list and returned to the lineup for Class AAA Charlotte.

Moncada, who had been sidelined with a left thumb injury, entered Friday’s game against Buffalo hitting .331 with six home runs and 15 RBI.

• Right-hander Juan Minaya was recalled from Charlotte. The 26-year-old is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 10 appearances with the Knights.

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