Nick Lodolo dominates in return as Reds shut out White Sox

Nick Lodolo threw five no-hit innings before allowing a ground-ball single to open the sixth in his first start in 11 months as the visiting Cincinnati Reds blanked the Chicago White Sox 5-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Spencer Steer continued his torrid start to the season with a three-run double in a five-run second against White Sox starter and loser Garrett Crochet (1-2).

Luke Maile added a two-run single in the big frame for the Reds, who clinched a winning road series against the White Sox for the first time since the 1919 World Series. In the infamous Black Sox scandal series, the Reds captured three of four games in Chicago en route to their first World Series title.

Lodolo (1-0) was making his first start since May 6, 2023, after missing most of last season due to a stress reaction in his left leg and a left calf injury in spring training.

The lefty starter held the White Sox hitless over the first five innings, striking out 10, walking one and hitting two batters in his 5 2/3 innings. Relievers Fernando Cruz and Brent Suter combined on 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

Robbie Grossman opened the sixth with a grounder up the middle that second baseman Santiago Espinal knocked down but had no play on, giving the White Sox their first hit.

All three Cincinnati outfielders made sensational plays, including right fielder Stuart Fairchild, who robbed Gavin Sheets of extra bases in the fourth with a diving catch. Sheets was also the victim when left fielder Steer made a last-second sliding catch in the sixth.

Center fielder Bubba Thompson made a sliding grab up against the left-center field wall of a Martin Maldonado drive in the eighth.

Crochet entered the game having walking just one batter in his first three starts while striking out 21. On Saturday, he walked three, including two in the five-run Cincinnati second inning.

Crochet struck out the side in the first, despite falling behind leadoff hitter Jonathan India three balls and no strikes.

The second inning was a different story. Jeimer Candelario opened with a double to left. Following a Fairchild single and a Santiago Espinal walk, Maile doubled home two runs for a 2-0 lead.

Following a walk to India, Steer rapped a three-run double down the left to make it 5-0.

Crochet did strike out 10 batters in his 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and five runs while walking three.