In Washington, Lucas Giolito, a former national player, delivers an exceptional performance on his return, but the Red Sox still manage to secure a 11-2 victory over them.
Lucas Giolito, the Boston Red Sox pitcher, made a memorable comeback to Nationals Park on Friday, leading his team to an 11-2 victory over the Washington Nationals. This was Giolito's first career appearance against the Washington Nationals since they traded him to the Chicago White Sox in December 2016.
Giolito, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals as their first-round pick in 2012, made his major league debut with the team in 2016. However, his tenure with the Nationals was short-lived, as he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair an injured elbow ligament and missed the entire 2017 season. He returned in 2018 but struggled, posting a 6.75 ERA in six appearances.
In 2019, Giolito was traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of a package deal for outfielder Adam Eaton, a key player for Washington’s 2019 World Series championship team. With the White Sox, Giolito developed into a frontline starting pitcher, though the details of his full tenure there are not readily available.
Giolito signed with the Boston Red Sox in January 2024 but missed the entire 2024 season due to right elbow surgery. He returned strong in 2025, showing impressive performance with Boston. On July 4, 2025, Giolito made his first career start against the Nationals, pitching 7 2/3 innings, allowing only one run, four hits, and striking out seven.
Giolito expressed little sentimentality about returning to Washington, stating that it had been a long time since he debuted there (nine to ten years ago). Despite trade rumours due to Boston’s playoff positioning, Giolito expressed a strong desire to remain with the Red Sox, emphasizing his commitment to helping the team win.
In five outings since June 10, Giolito is 4-0 with an 0.83 ERA. He has lowered his ERA from 6.42 to 3.66 in this span. His dominant outing against the Nationals was his longest since Aug. 9, 2021, and he threw a season-high 108 pitches against the Nationals.
Giolito's journey reflects resilience through injury setbacks, growth as a major league starter, and current success with the Boston Red Sox. His return to Nationals Park marked a significant milestone in his career, as he earned his first victory at the stadium since his 2016 debut.
Giolito, who was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals as their first-round pick in 2012, displayed his major league pitching prowess against his former team on July 4, 2025, with a dominant 7 2/3-inning outing in an 11-2 win for the Boston Red Sox. Despite the trade that sent him to the Chicago White Sox in 2019, Giolito's career has developed to include MLB appearances, showing that baseball can offer second chances and new opportunities.
