White Sox-Athletics highlights: Sox take Game 1

Lucas Giolito retired the first 18 batters he faced and the White Sox offense brought the boom with three home runs to beat the Athletics, 4-1, in Game 1 of their Wild Card Round series.

Giolito, who had an ERA over 6 just two years ago, didn’t look overwhelmed at all in his postseason debut. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit until Tommy La Stella’s single in the seventh inning, and while an eighth-inning stumble led to Oakland’s lone run, it was an impressive outing.

The Sox also brought their power game to the plate with Jose Abreu, Adam Engel and Yasmani Grandal going deep for the Sox, while Tim Anderson added three hits from the leadoff spot.

The two teams will meet again Wednesday for Game 2 of the three-game series. Dallas Keuchel is expected to face Chris Bassitt on the mound.

Check out highlights from the Sox’ Game 1 win below.

Final score: White Sox 4, A’s 1

White Sox 4, Athletics 1: Alex Colome struck out Matt Olson to complete a perfect inning for the win. The Sox can advance to the next round of the playoffs with one more win.

White Sox 4, Athletics 1: The A’s bullpen does its job in the top of the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning. Alex Colome will come in looking for the save.

White Sox 4, Athletics 1: Jake Diekman enters the game on the mound for the A’s to try to keep the Sox from extending their advantage.

Eighth inning: White Sox 4, A’s 1

White Sox 4, Athletics 1: Aaron Bummer delivers by inducing a groundball fielder’s choice from Tommy La Stella to get out of the jam.

White Sox 4, Athletics 1: A two-out single by Sean Murphy brings the tying run to the plate, so the Sox are turning to Aaron Bummer to try to get to the ninth with a three-run lead.

White Sox 4, Athletics 1: Ramon Laureano drives in a run with a fielder’s choice that leaves the A’s with a runner on first and one out.

White Sox 4, Athletics 0: After a single by Jake Lamb puts runners on the corners with no outs, the Sox finally pull the plug on Lucas Giolito following a stellar afternoon. Reliever Evan Marshall will come out of the bullpen.

White Sox 4, Athletics 0: Lucas Giolito comes out for the eighth inning and allows a leadoff walk, but Rick Renteria’s mound visit is merely for a chat. The Sox are putting a lot of faith in their ace.

White Sox 4, Athletics 0: Joakim Soria bounces back after the Grandal home run to go 1-2-3 to get out of the inning. Sox lead by 4.

White Sox 4, Athletics 0: HOME RUN! That pitching change did not work for the A’s as Yasmani Grandal absolutely blasts a Soria off-speed pitch for the third Sox home run of the game.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Joakim Soria comes out of the Oakland bullpen to open the eighth inning on the mound. Sox got the middle of their batting order coming up.

Seventh inning: White Sox 3, A’s 0

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Lucas Giolito responds to his first hit allowed by striking out Marcus Semien and forcing Matt Olson into a popup. The A’s haven’t had a hitter in scoring position through seven innings.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Tommy La Stella ends Lucas Giolito’s flawless afternoon with a single up the middle to give Oakland its first baserunner of the day.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Yoan Moncada strikes out to end the threat. The third baseman is 0-for-4 in the game.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Tim Anderson appears locked in as he doubles to left field for his third hit of the afternoon.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Yusmeiro Petit enters the game on the mound for the Athletics.

Sixth inning: White Sox 3, A’s 0

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Lucas Giolito doesn’t appear to be losing any steam considering he struck out the side in the sixth.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Adam Engel strikes out to end the frame.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: A two-out single by Luis Robert gives the rookie his first career postseason hit.

Fifth inning: White Sox 3, A’s 0

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Luis Robert had to make a couple plays in center field but the A’s can’t get anything going on offense yet. Lucas Giolito has put down 15 straight hitters to open the game.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: J.B. Wendelken continues his strong afternoon with a 1-2-3 inning punctuated by a strikeout of Yasmani Grandal.

Fourth inning: White Sox 3, A’s 0

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: While the broadcast praised Lucas Giolito’s mechanical changes, he continued cranking through the Athletics’ lineup with another 1-2-3 inning.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: A’s reliever J.B. Wendelken enters the game and gets a pair of quick outs from Leury Garcia and Nick Madrigal to keep the Sox from extending their lead.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Adam Engel stays hot with a zinger off the wall in left field for a double. The Athletics decided that was enough for Jesus Luzardo, who’s done for the day with one out in the fourth inning.

Third inning: White Sox 3, A’s 0

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: Another 1-2-3 inning for Lucas Giolito, who’s only struck out one but put down nine straight batters.

White Sox 3, Athletics 0: HOME RUN! Jose Abreu takes advantage of a two-out fastball to smash his first postseason home run. Anderson, who had advanced to third after a pair of groundouts, scored on the play.

White Sox 1, Athletics 0: Tim Anderson leads off another inning with a single as he improves to 2-for-2 on the day.

Second inning: White Sox 1, A’s 0

White Sox 1, Athletics 0: Lucas Giolito stays steady with another 1-2-3 frame.

White Sox 1, Athletics 0: HOME RUN! Adam Engel does his best impression of Eloy Jimenez by launching a 96mph fastball to put the Sox ahead.

First inning: White Sox 0, A’s 0

White Sox 0, Athletics 0: No drama for Lucas Giolito in the first inning as he puts down the A’s 1-2-3.

White Sox 0, Athletics 0: James McCann strikes out on three pitches to end the first frame scoreless.

White Sox 0, Athletics 0: After Tim Anderson opened the game with a leadoff single, Jose Abreu advanced him to third base with a two-out single into the gap between first and second. The Sox got a chance to take an early lead with two outs.

Before the game

The first postseason trip for the White Sox in more than a decade starts Tuesday afternoon with Game 1 of the Wild Card Round against the Athletics. The three-game series won’t give either team much time to find their playoff footing, so both sides will be hoping to jump out of the gate hot.

The White Sox ended the regular season on an underwhelming note with nine losses in 12 games, but had no trouble earning a postseason spot after emerging as one of the American League’s top offensive teams. The A’s, meanwhile, boast a strong pitching staff led by one of the game’s premier bullpens.

The Game 1 pitching matchup will see the Sox’ Lucas Giolito face A’s rookie Jesus Luzardo, who flashed some impressive stuff in his debut season. Giolito followed up his breakout 2019 by posting a 3.48 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 72.1 innings over 12 starts.

The last time the Sox were in the postseason, Gavin Floyd started in a loss to the Rays, so it’s been awhile.

How to watch Sox-A’s Game 1

Time: 2:08 p.m. CT

TV: ESPN

Live stream: Watch ESPN