Quintana gets some rare run support as White Sox roll over Mariners
The Chicago White Sox didn't let Jose Quintana's latest quality outing go to waste.
In Quintana's previous three starts before Saturday night's game against the Seattle Mariners, the Sox scored 7 total runs.
They matched that total by the fifth inning and rolled over Seattle 9-3 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Quintana pitched 7⅔ innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits and 1 walk. The left-hander also had 8 strikeouts.
“It was amazing,” Quintana said. “You can come back to the mound more comfortable, I can throw my first pitch for a strike. The offense was really good for us, and for me. It's fun like that, when you throw and we score a lot of runs.”
The White Sox hit 4 home runs behind Quintana, and Avisail Garcia had a 2-run shot to go with 2 doubles.
“We try our best,” Garcia said. “We are trying to score runs for the pitchers and every day we are trying to do our best. Sometime we hit and sometime not. That's the way it is. You have to keep fighting and be positive.”
In his last 10 starts, Quintana is 6-1 with a 2.13 ERA.
“He's able to hit the four quadrants of the strike zone with his fastball,” catcher Alex Avila said. “His fastball command is always pretty good. You never have to worry about that. It's always there. When he's able to throw his curveball and his slider over for strikes, where he wants it, usually it's going to make for a tough night for the hitters.”
Avila back:
Right after catcher Dioner Navarro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays Friday, Alex Avila came off the disabled list.
The White Sox signed Avila to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Nov. 25 and hoped the long run of injuries he had with the Tigers were over. The gamble has not paid off.
Avila has twice been on the DL with strained hamstrings, and the 29-year-old veteran was behind the plate for the Sox Saturday night for the first time since July 5.
“It definitely took longer than I expected it to,” said Avila, who hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. “But at the same time I couldn't jeopardize coming back and reinjuring it again. At this point in the season I feel like I'm definitely ready to play and can get through the last few games.
“It's been a rough few weeks, personally, but sometimes there's things you can't control. It can be difficult when you're on the DL because at times you feel a little disconnected. But you have to really worry about yourself and getting healthy, then once you are you can get back to being a team player.”
New guy:
Here are some quick thoughts from White Sox general manager Rick Hahn's on minor-league relief pitcher Colton Turner, acquired in a trade from Toronto Friday for veteran catcher Dioner Navarro.
A left-hander, Turner was a combined 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA and 13 saves in 44 appearances with Class A Lansing, A Dunedin and AA New Hampshire this season. He allowed just 1 home run in 54 innings and limited opponents to a .201 bating average, including a .144 average by right-handers.
“He came back from Tommy John last season and pitched this past winter in Australia,” Hahn said. “Ever since he got back, he seems to have hit his stride well. Fastball (94-95 mph) slider mix, good command. You can obviously see from the numbers he has done impressive work against righties for a left-handed reliever, which is nice to see.”