Quintana helps White Sox beat Astros
HOUSTON -- Jose Quintana dazzled for seven innings and the Chicago White Sox won their fourth consecutive series by claiming the rubber match against the Houston Astros 4-1 on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.
Quintana (6-8), often the victim of poor run support, limited the Astros (43-39) to just two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He surrendered a leadoff home run to Houston right fielder George Springer in the first inning and pitched with a pair of baserunners on the in the third inning before retiring the final 15 batters he faced.
The White Sox (42-40) had supplied Quintana with one run or less of support eight times over his last nine starts. They scored twice in the third inning off Astros right-hander Collin McHugh (5-6) before tacking on insurance runs in the eighth with timely hits and smart baserunning.
The third inning proved pivotal for the White Sox, who capitalized on the same opportunity that Houston squandered in the bottom of the frame.
J.B. Shuck (walk) and Tim Anderson (double) reached to open the third for Chicago, with both scoring in succession when Adam Eaton and Jose Abreu tallied a run-scoring groundout and RBI single, respectively.
McHugh allowed two runs on five hits and four walks with nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. The Astros dropped their first home series since late May. They had won five consecutive series overall.
Jason Castro recorded the final hit off Quintana with his leadoff double in the third, and Springer followed with a walk to set the table for the heart of the Astros order. But Quintana rallied to strike out Marwin Gonzalez, who failed twice to lay down a sacrifice bunt, and then induced fly balls to center from Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.
Quintana breezed from there, encountering a measure of drama with two outs in the seventh when he threw behind Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis to prompt plate umpire Ryan Blakney to warn both benches.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch protested that decision and was quickly ejected. Quintana recovered to strike out Gattis to complete his outing.
The White Sox strung together three successive hits off Astros right-hander Chris Devenski to open the eighth, with pinch runner Tyler Saladino adding a stolen base to position himself to score when Brett Lawrie singled to center field. Lawrie took second when Carlos Gomez uncorked an errant throw to the plate and later scored when Dioner Navarro lined a single to the left-center field gap to a three-run lead.
NOTES: Astros 1B A.J. Reed was in the starting lineup against White Sox LHP Jose Quintana even though he is a left-handed hitter. Astros manager A.J. Hinch spoke of the club's commitment to their rookie slugger as an everyday player, a position that includes Reed facing tough southpaws throughout the league. ... Chicago LHP Chris Sale leads the American League in wins (14), complete games (three), and WHIP (0.98) and is seeking to become the first White Sox pitcher to make five consecutive All-Star teams. ... White Sox 1B Justin Morneau is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. Morneau signed with the White Sox on June 9 and is recovering from left elbow primary flexor surgery. Morneau had been with the club recently taking batting practice but he last played in a game on Oct. 4 with the Rockies.