CHICAGO _ A trio of young White Sox starting pitchers produced a reel of mostly lowlights in their last run through the rotation.
But Lucas Giolito delivered a needed pitching pick-me-up Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.
One night after the Sox decided they had seen enough (for now) of right-hander Carson Fulmer's struggles at the major-league level, Giolito limited the Rangers to three runs _ two earned _ over six innings to help the Sox to a 5-3 victory.
Fulmer and Reynaldo Lopez had combined to allow 14 runs over four innings in their last starts. Giolito, who entered the game with a 6.91 ERA, had walked seven and gave up three earned runs in 52/3 innings in his last start against the Cubs.
But Sox manager Rick Renteria said Giolito has shown spurts of growth this season, mostly in his drive to work through adversity. Giolito gave up four hits with two walks, two hit batters and three strikeouts Saturday.
"You see strength in him every day," Renteria said. "He has been able to manage most of the things that he's going through right now. If I had to pick one thing that continues to grow with him, it's his emotional maturity. He gets frustrated just like anybody else, but he's able to manage it to the point where he's able to give you innings."
The Sox did all of their damage in the third inning against Rangers right-hander Ariel Jurado, who was making his major-league debut. Jose Abreu doubled off Jurado in the first to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, but the Sox stranded him.
Abreu and Matt Davidson hit back-to-back RBI singles to left field to put the Sox on the board in the third. Daniel Palka added a two-run triple to left field to give the Sox the lead.
Abreu's home run in the seventh pushed the lead to 5-3. He reached base in all four plate appearances, including an intentional walk in the fifth. He didn't get a fifth appearance for a shot at completing the cycle.
That was enough to overcome an early Rangers lead that began when Jurickson Profar and Rougned Odor each hit RBI doubles off Giolito in the second.
Profar added a sacrifice fly in the third after the Rangers loaded the bases on a walk, a hit batter and second baseman Yoan Moncada's error. Moncada dropped a toss from shortstop Tim Anderson that allowed the runner to reach second.
Sox relievers Bruce Rondon, Jace Fry and Nate Jones finished off the final three scoreless innings to preserve the victory.
It was a better night for the Sox than Friday, when they decided to send Fulmer to the minors. He allowed eight earned runs in two innings as his ERA this season climbed to 8.07.
Renteria called the demotion a "reboot," a chance to work without the pressure of the big leagues.
"I don't know that it was too much for him to handle as much as he allowed it to absorb him a little bit," Renteria said. "He's capable of handling everything that's around him, but it's also a learned aspect of mental strength and emotional balance, when you're trying to stay even keeled and stay truly focused on what you're able to control. He has some work to do."
Left-hander Carlos Rodon's start in the minors Saturday night was positive, however.
In his first start on a rehab assignment with Class A Kannapolis, Rodon, who is inching toward a return from left shoulder surgery, allowed one earned run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts over five innings.
