Without any wrongdoing, Tuesday evening at Guaranteed Rate Field still found a way to add another layer to the drama surrounding MLB’s crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances.
This time, it was the mere insinuation of cheating that angered White Sox ace Lucas Giolito.
After Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer off Giolito in the first inning of the White Sox’s eventual 7-6 win, he rubbed his hands together and appeared to yell, “Hand’s not sticky anymore, it’s not sticky,” which Giolito clearly viewed as an accusation of cheating, judging by his postgame comments in which he teed off on Donaldson.
"He's a fucking pest,” Giolito said of Donaldson’s comments, according to the Athletic. “That's kind of a classless move. If you're going to talk shit, talk shit to my face. Don't go across home plate and do all that, just come to me.
"We won. The W's next to my name. They're in last place.”
Giolito earned the win by tossing six innings of three-run ball, over which he allowed six hits and a walk while striking out one. The White Sox improved to 46-32 with the win and lead the second-place Indians by 2.5 games in the AL Central. The Twins (33-44) are second-to-last in the division, a half-game ahead of the last-place Royals (33-45).
Among MLB players, Donaldson has been one of the more outspoken critics against pitchers using foreign substances, previously insinuating Yankees ace Gerrit Cole relied of sticky substances to find success.
Donaldson wasn't made available to reporters postgame Tuesday, the Athletic reported. He's expected to speak to the media Wednesday.