Quentin gets more rest in series opener

It has been a rough second half for Carlos Quentin.

Hit on the right hand by a pitch from Twins starter Kevin Slowey when play resumed Thursday after the all-star break, Quentin sat out Friday and didn't look right Saturday while going 0-for-4 and failing to hit the ball out of the infield.

The White Sox' right fielder was back on the field Sunday at Minnesota but had to exit in the sixth inning after hitting a 2-run double.

Opening a three-game series against the Mariners on Monday night in Seattle, Quentin was not in the starting lineup because of the hand injury.

"He could have played, but I don't want an in-and-out, in-and-out thing," manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters. "I'm going to give him a good rest and make sure the hand is good. He keeps aggravating it, and that's not going to help us."

Quentin was a huge help for the Sox heading into the all-star break, hitting a franchise-record 6 home runs in four games.

Low blow: Even though closer Bobby Jenks failed to protect a 6-3 lead in the ninth inning Sunday at Minnesota while allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks, he was not charged with a blown save since he exited with the White Sox still leading 6-5.

Jenks was tagged with the loss, and Sergio Santos got the blown save. Heading into Monday's late game at Seattle, Jenks still had 15 straight save conversions.

Tough luck: Alex Rios headed into Monday's game with a .305 batting average, and the Sox' center fielder was batting .351 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in his last 10 games.

General manager Kenny Williams told reporters Rios' numbers should be even better.

"Alex Rios could be batting .400 if he had any kind of luck," Williams said. "I've never seen a guy hit the ball hard as consistently for so long."

Full Sale: Chris Sale is definitely on the fast track.

The White Sox' first-round pick in the June draft, Sale pitched just four games for Class A Winston-Salem before being promoted to AAA Charlotte.

Sale, a 6-foot-5, 170-pounder who was a starter at Florida Gulf Coast University, has made 2 relief appearances for Charlotte and pitched 12/3 scoreless innings while striking out four.

The Sox could use another left-handed reliever to help Matt Thornton, and Sale is positioned to get a shot.

"When you can throw strikes with all your pitches and you've got action, particularly on the changeup, he can pitch in this league," GM Kenny Williams said. "He's in Triple-A right now, so that means he's in the mix."