Despite rain, Lucas Giolito, White Sox beat Twins

Giolito threw five scoreless innings before a rain delay, and fellow all-stars Jose Abreu and James McCann also contributed to the victory.

Lucas Giolito showed why he’s an all-star. Well, for five innings.

Named to the American League team Sunday afternoon, Giolito allowed no runs in the White Sox’s 4-3 win over the Twins. Giolito gave up just one hit, struck out four, and became the first pitcher to win 11 games this season, but his day was interrupted before the top of the sixth when the rain came.

With the win, the Sox took two of three from the first-place Twins. They hit the halfway mark of the season 39-42, after going 28-53 through 81 games last year.

Following a delay of 2 hours, 54 minutes that saw Giolito, Jose Abreu and James McCann named to the American League all-star team, Giolito was replaced by Evan Marshall.

On a day when the Sox rotation got the attention with Giolito’s all-star berth and the impending arrival of Dylan Cease, a key part of the infield also made some waves.

In the third, Yoan Moncada hit his 14th homer. More importantly, Moncada’s drive to center came from the right side, his second home run of the season against a left-handed pitcher.

Following the rain delay, the Sox’ all-stars that stayed in the game padded Giolito’s lead.

After a Moncada single, Abreu had a base hit of his own. McCann added the third straight single of the inning, driving in Moncada and giving the Sox a 3-0 lead. Abreu then came around from second on a Jon Jay single, adding to the advantage.

Marshall threw a scoreless sixth but surrendered Nelson Cruz’s two-run homer in the seventh. Minnesota added another run on a Miguel Sano single, but Aaron Bummer struck out Byron Buxton to leave two runners on.

Alex Colome got the last four outs for his 18th save in 19 tries.