Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito gives up 3 home runs — including No. 492 to Miguel Cabrera — leading to a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers: ‘Can’t let that happen’

Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito would take the stuff he had Saturday every day.

He would just want three pitches back.

Giolito surrendered three home runs in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers in front of 21,719 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“I feel like my pitches were working well,” Giolito said during a conference call. “I gave up three homers. Can’t let that happen. I’m facing big-league hitters but I need to make better pitches in those situations. Three not-well-executed pitches that led to three home runs in the loss.”

The right-hander allowed four runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings as the Sox lost for just the third time in the last 10 games.

Eric Haase homered twice and Miguel Cabrera hit the 492nd home run of his career.

Haase hit a two-run homer in the second and a solo home run in the fourth, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead. Cabrera’s solo homer in the sixth made it 4-1. He is is one home run shy from tying Fred McGriff and Lou Gehrig for 28th on the all-time list.

“Unfortunately today it took me giving up three homers to get my mentality going right,” Giolito said. “I learned from that and I need to bring that intensity from start to finish.

“That gear is always there, and I need to tap into it more consistently.”

Tigers starter Tarik Skubal allowed one run on four hits with 11 strikeouts and three walks in five innings.

“His fastball plays a little bit harder than it looks,” said Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal, who had two hits, one walk and an RBI. “I know he was up to 97 but it looks like it’s coming a little bit harder than that. He just kept us off-balance. He landed curveballs when he needed to. You could see how much talent he has and the stuff.”

The Sox started gaining some momentum in the sixth. Jake Lamb drove in two with a double off reliever Derek Holland to get the Sox within 4-3. Later in the inning, the Sox had runners on first and second with no outs. With Holland on the ropes, Danny Mendick attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the Tigers got the lead runner out at third.

“What was the score at the time, 4-3? Is the tying run on second base and the go-ahead run at first? And if he bunts them over, you’ve got (Tim) Anderson and Madrigal? I think that’s the play,” La Russa said. “I felt really good about bunting them over.”

Reliever Kyle Funkhouser entered with runners on first and second and one out and induced Anderson to hit into a forceout to third. Madrigal grounded out to first to end the inning.

Pinch hitter Yermín Mercedes, who had the game-winning hit Friday, just missed tying the game in the eighth for the Sox, flying out to deep left-center.

“We weren’t able to get the big hit today,” Madrigal said. “It was a tough one.”

Giolito felt likewise on his end.

“I threw a very high percentage of strikes today,” Giolito said. “Mechanics feel good. Body feels good. Today’s tough one because it could have been a really, really good outing. Offense gave me three runs. I’ve got to work with that and I need to get the job done and I just didn’t.”

Sox center fielder Billy Hamilton exited after the fourth inning with right side soreness. The training staff checked him out during a fourth-inning at-bat. He finished the at-bat, striking out.

“It looked like it’s that oblique area,” La Russa said. “All indications are that he tweaked it. Not optimistic that he will be available (Sunday). Have to wait and see.”

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