The first no-hitter of the 2020 MLB season (and potentially the only no-hitter that will happen in this tiny season) belongs to Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito.
Giolito no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, while only walking one batter and striking out 13 over 101 pitches in a 4-0 White Sox victory. It was complete dominance from the 26-year-old right-hander.
However, it did look off the bat like the very last out may result in a hit. The Pirates’ Erik Gonzalez smoked a line drive to right field, but a stumbling Adam Engel was able to make the catch.
LUCAS GIOLITO DID IT pic.twitter.com/7dFkR2Afdq
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 26, 2020
Lucas Giolito: 101 pitches is fewest thrown in a no-hitter with at least 13 K in the pitch-count era (since 1988).
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) August 26, 2020
It’s the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history, and the first since Philip Humber’s perfect game since 2012. Giolito is also the first White Sox pitcher to throw a no-hitter with at least 10 strikeouts.
Lucas Giolito: 19th no-hitter in #WhiteSox history
The first no-hitter in White Sox history with 10+ strikeouts.
The first White Sox no-hitter since Philip Humber's April 21, 2012 perfect game.
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) August 26, 2020
With Giolito, to go with an extremely talented group of (very young) position players, the White Sox could be a very dangerous team in this year’s playoff format.