Another wasted effort for White Sox's Quintana

In Saturday's start against Felix Hernandez and the Mariners, Jose Quintana, for the eighth time in his career, pitched 7 or more scoreless innings.

That's what you call a bad omen.

For the seventh time in the eight stellar outings, Quintana was rewarded with a no-decision.

"You know, it was a really hard game," Quintana said after the bullpen couldn't hold a 2-0 lead in an eventual 3-2 loss in 14 innings. "Felix was throwing pretty good, too."

While lowering his ERA to 3.20 with 7⅔ scoreless innings, Quintana matched his season high with 10 strikeouts.

Hernandez held the White Sox to 2 runs on 3 hits in 8 innings, and the Sox had just 4 hits all game.

"The guy's good for a reason," Gordon Beckham said of Hernandez. "Q pitched a great game for us, and Hernandez is really good. We've seen him before. He had his 'A' stuff today. When you play 14 innings and only get 4 hits, obviously they're doing something right. Long day."

Mix it up:

The White Sox' three left-handed starters - John Danks, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana - have been pitching in that order and delivering quality starts nearly every time out.

The Sox' other two starters - right-handers Hector Noesi and Scott Carroll - have mostly struggled.

"I don't know if it's ideal, but that's kind of the way we ended up," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think we moved some people around and guys were shuffled in and out and they're right together. I wouldn't see them right together there after the (all-star) break."

Transition time:

Last month Eric Surkamp was 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 2 starts with Class AAA Charlotte, earning International League pitcher of the week honors.

A few days later Surkamp found himself in the White Sox' bullpen.

"It's definitely been a little different," he said. "This is really my first time ever relieving other than spring training and stuff. It's a little bit of an adjustment, but it's been fun.

"When there is something that you haven't done it's always a bit of a challenge for you, especially at this level. But I'm excited for it."

Surkamp is the only left-hander in the Sox' bullpen, replacing released veteran Scott Downs. He pitched in four straight games at Toronto last week, then wasn't used until Saturday.

With the White Sox holding a 2-0 lead against the Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field, Surkamp was on the mound to open the ninth inning. He walked the one hitter he faced, Robinson Cano.

All in all, the 26-year-old Surkamp is faring about as well as expected.

"It's a different role, but I feel pretty good," said Surkamp, who made 7 starts with the San Francisco Giants in 2011 and '13 after having Tommy John surgery in 2012.

"You look at anything available up here as an opportunity for yourself, and also to help the team win. They needed a guy, a left-hander out of the bullpen, so I'm excited to try to help out the team."