Gregor: Quintana, Sox complete 3-game sweep over Astros
Jose Quintana never complains.
He never glares at his teammates, never slams his glove in the dugout and he never makes excuses.
Quintana is content with taking the ball every fifth day and doing his job.
Entering Wednesday night's game against the Astros, the White Sox' unassuming left-hander had a sparkling 3.10 ERA in his last eight starts. He was 1-5 over that stretch.
In his first five starts at U.S. Cellular Field this season, Quintana received a paltry 1.97 runs per game.
Again, no complaints.
"He's good with everything," manager Robin Ventura said. "His attitude is exactly what you want."
All things considered, Quintana had every right to be ecstatic Wednesday after the Sox beat the Astros 4-1 to sweep the three-game series.
Quintana (3-6) pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 6 hits while picking up his first win since May 13.
"For Q pitching with the tough luck he's had over his career, he has an ability to focus on what he can control," Ventura said. "There are guys who would hang their head or make it difficult in the clubhouse. He doesn't do any of those things."
Quintana has 42 no-decisions since 2012, the most in the major leagues.
It looked like another one was coming Wednesday after he exited after 7 innings with the game tied at 1.
Houston took the early lead in the second inning on Jake Marisnick's sacrifice fly.
Adam LaRoche tied it in the sixth with a solo home run, and Geovany Soto led off the seventh inning with another homer to put the Sox in front for good and get Quintana the deserved victory.
In the eighth, Jose Abreu hit a 2-run homer to seal the outcome.
"He just stays focused on what he does and he knows it'll turn around," Ventura said. "Hopefully, this is the start of a run."
Ventura scrambled the lineup Wednesday, with J.B. Shuck leading off, Emilio Bonifacio batting second, Soto batting seventh, Conor Gillaspie eighth and Gordon Beckham ninth.
"The way Adam (Eaton) is swinging, he just needs a day off," Ventura said. "It's not getting any better as far as feel for him, so you get him out of there. Shuck has been swinging it pretty good. On that last road trip he was filling in for Avi (Garcia).
"By no means are we just letting off the gas, we're not in a position to do that. But you have to find spots to be able to give guys a break."
Behind the solid starting pitching of Chris Sale, Carlos Rodon and Quintana, the White Sox (28-30) swept the three-game series against Houston.
The Sox' left-handed trio pitched a combined 21 innings against the Astros and allowed only 2 runs while striking out 22.