White Sox waste another quality effort from Quintana
The Chicago White Sox should do Jose Quintana a huge favor. They should trade him.
That is highly unlikely, but changing uniforms could only improve Quintana's lousy luck.
The Sox' left-hander delivered yet another strong start Thursday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field. And — yet again — Quintana has nothing to show for it.
“You get tired of talking about it with Q,” manager Robin Ventura said after the White Sox lost 4-2 to the Oakland A's. “We know he's a good pitcher. You don't question that at all. Whether he's going to get some run support, that's the other question.
“Going out there, he's the same every day, he brings it every day. He's just very consistent about how he goes about his work, how he pitches, attitude, all that stuff that you'd like to see, he does that every day. He doesn't hang his head on things like this, he knows guys are out there trying.”
Quintana pitched 7 innings against Oakland and allowed only 1 run on 4 hits.
With the Sox leading 2-1 in the ninth, Billy Butler decided the outcome with a 3-run homer off closer David Robertson.
Avisail Garcia appeared to rob Butler with a catch over the fence, but his glove hit the yellow padding and he lost control of the ball.
“I'm not even mad either way on that,” an angry Robertson said. “Either way, they were tying the ballgame up and I had blown it. I'm just furious with myself. I just screwed up another win for one our starters who pitched his (butt) off. And I keep (bleeping) doing it.
“I'm sorry guys. I'm just really flustered right now. I'm really mad that I blew that game. Q pitched phenomenal. I have to be there to get his back.”
As usual, Quintana took a difficult no decision in stride.
“I never feel bad luck,” he said. “It's part of the game, it happens. Try to continue. Sometime that'll change.”
Quintana upped his quality start total to 23, tying him for second in the American League with Toronto's David Price. Houston's Dallas Keuchel is first with 24 QS.
“I feel confidence every time I go out,” Quintana said. “Every time, I try to do the best I can do and try to do my job better and better. The key for me is preparation, preparation before all starts, try every time to get strong.”
Trailing 1-0, Mike Olt tied the game in the fourth inning with a 443-foot home run to left field. It was the third baseman's second homer in as many games.
Melky Cabrera's run-scoring single in the fifth put the White Sox in front.
Still sidelined:
Rookie outfielder Trayce Thompson, who strained his left elbow trying to make a diving catch Monday, was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game with the injury.
Thompson was originally scheduled to play Wednesday night but was a late scratch.
“Every time he starts doing something, he'll feel a little something,” manager Robin Ventura said. “I don't really want him in there if it's going to change anything about his swing and how he plays. Hopefully he can play on the road. It's getting better but we just don't feel comfortable. He's willing to go out there and play but I want him to be 100 percent and not change anything he's got going on right now. He's been playing great.”
Thompson did pinch-run Thursday after Tyler Flowers led off the ninth inning with a single.
Sox scouting report
White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Saturday; WGN Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Chris Sale (12-9) vs. Cody Anderson (4-3) today at 6:10 p.m.; Carlos Rodon (7-6) vs. Carlos Carrasco (13-10) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; John Danks (7-12) vs. Josh Tomlin (5-2) Sunday at 12:10 p.m..
At a glance: The White Sox embark on their final road trip of the season. The first stop is at Cleveland, where the Sox have won four straight. Sale leads the American League with 250 strikeouts, but the lefty is 0-2 with a 5.01 ERA in his last four starts. Rodon starts for the first time since Sept. 8, when he allowed 1 run on 5 hits over 7 innings while beating the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.
Next: Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Monday-Wednesday
— Scot Gregor