What’s took place during the first six innings at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday was so hideous it was hard for A’s fans to stay glued to their televisions.
Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito retired the first 18 batters he faced on Tuesday as he recorded six perfect innings before A’s leadoff hitter Tommy LaStella ended his bid with history with a single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh. Giolito is a dominant right-hander who emerged as one of the better pitchers in the majors last season and took another step forward in 2020 as he tossed a no-hitter on August 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The A’s have mostly been non-competitive against Giolito as no one threatened the Chicago starter early and the few hard-hit balls Oakland produced found the glove of White Sox center fielder Luis Robert.
Giolito opened the seventh inning on Tuesday with a chance to join Don Larsen as the only major league pitcher to throw a perfect game in the postseason as he became the fifth pitcher in MLB playoff history to go 18 up and 18 down to open a start.
Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series for the New York Yankees is one of two playoff no-hitters in baseball history as the late Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay tossed one on October 6, 2010 in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds.
The A’s trailed 3-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 1 of the AL wild-card round.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Tommy La Stella (3) fist-bumps Oakland Athletics first base coach Mike Aldrete (17) after hitting a single against the Chicago White Sox in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano (22) lines-out to left field on a pitch from Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) hits a single against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Matt Olson (28) heads to the dugout after striking out to end the game in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
