First Call: Pirates might be ‘trying to sell everything,’ how they were no-hit by White Sox

Wednesday’s “First Call” is all about the Pirates, as we take a closer look at how they got no-hit in Chicago.

Then we kick around some trade rumors involving the organization.

South Side celebration

Wanna know what it sounded like on Chicago’s South Side when White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito completed his no-hit, 4-0 shutout against the Pirates Tuesday night?

LUCAS GIOLITO DID IT pic.twitter.com/7dFkR2Afdq

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 26, 2020

Did you hear that ramped-up fake crowd noise!? See the wild celebration in the crowd from the cardboard cutouts?!

And, apparently, social distancing doesn’t matter when it comes to the no-hit Gatorade showers.

Had to get the Gatorade treatment pic.twitter.com/SYiCYC3pzV

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 26, 2020

White Sox manager Rick Renteria was pretty emotional after the game.

"I don't have any words. I wanna cry."

This is awesome. pic.twitter.com/I5BOtSiuIx

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) August 26, 2020

This was the 19th no-hitter in franchise history for the White Sox. It was the first of the batch with 10+ strikeouts. Giolito had 13 on 101 pitches. It’s the first White Sox no-hitter since Philip Humber’s Apr. 21, 2012 perfect game. And this is the first MLB no-hitter of 2020.

This was the first no-hitter against the Pirates since Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals did it on June 20, 2015. It is the 13th time the Pirates have been no-hit.

Erik Gonzalez was the only guy to reach base for the Pirates. He did so on a four-pitch walk. It was the first time he walked all year.

Just two years ago, Giolito had an ERA of 6.18, the worst in the Major Leagues.

Toronto talks

MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Toronto Blue Jays may be eyeing up a trade with the Pirates before the 4 p.m. deadline Monday.

He reports the American League East club is considering a move that would bring pitchers Chad Kuhl and Trevor Williams to Toron … uh … I mean Buffalo.

At least this year anyway, as the Jays aren’t allowed back across the border into Canada.

They are playing pretty well in Upstate New York, though. This team that was almost a resident of Pittsburgh for the truncated 2020 campaign is now 14-14. But starting pitchers Matt Shoemaker, Nate Pearson and Trent Thornton are on the injured list. So the franchise needs help in its rotation.

No word yet about the return to Pittsburgh. But Pirates’ brass should know what’s available. General manager Ben Cherington was the Blue Jays vice president of player development from 2016-19. Assistant GM Steve Sanders was the Blue Jays director of amateur scouting. Cherington has a working relationship with Blue Jays general manager Mark Shapiro dating back to 1998 with the Cleveland Indians.

Morosi also infers that the Blue Jays may be sniffing around the Seattle Mariners or Anaheim Angels for help if they don’t land Williams and/or Kuhl.

Williams is 1-4 on the season for the Pirates. His earned run average is 3.70, but 2.81 over his last three starts.

Kuhl’s elbow surgery kept him out all of 2019. He began 2020 in the bullpen but has made three starts of late. His 3.21 ERA in that time is respectable and sits at 2.84 overall. And Kuhl has been striking out a batter per inning while opponents are hitting .146 against him.

Toronto is currently in the eighth and final American League playoff spot.

Meanwhile MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports that Cherington is “trying to sell everything.” He states relief pitcher Keone Kela was getting interest before his right arm suffered tightness. Instead Feinsand points to Gregory Polanco, Joe Musgrove and Adam Frazier as Pirates players that could be moved by Monday.