White Sox’ Quintana ‘dazzling’ vs. Brewers
It is safe to assume Jose Quintana was never in danger of being traded to Boston for Kevin Youkilis. Real safe.
With 8 shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field, Quintana continues to pitch himself into untouchable status.
“It feels good that the manager and the front office have that faith in me to let me go out there and do what I’m doing,” Quintana said through a translator after the White Sox won 1-0 in 10 innings. “It feels good that I’m able to contribute to the team.”
Quintana has quickly become a major contributor.
In addition to extending his scoreless innings streak to 16, the 23-year-old lefty has faced 97 straight hitters without issuing a walk, the longest active streak in the majors.
“It actually makes me happy,” Quintana said. “I didn’t even know that statistic. But that shows the hard work that’s being put in so each time I go out there, not thinking about statistics, I just kind of go out there and give the best I have.”
If he ever gets any run support, Quintana should start piling up wins. For now, he is 2-1 with a 1.25 ERA.
“He’s just dazzling,” manager Robin Ventura said. “He’s done everything we have asked, and you let him go out there. He’s a lot more mature than you would expect. It’s tough taking him out of games like that.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the same, but it’s pretty close to the (Chris) Sale thing where you’re protecting his future as well. You don’t want him to get into those uncharted waters he hasn’t been in before pitching a lot of innings.”
Brewers starter Mike Fiers also was impressive Sunday, pitching 7 shutout innings.
“He was hitting his spots with every pitch,” Alex Rios said. “He threw me changeups and some cutters, curveballs, sliders, whatever he had. He was locating them very good. I guess he did a pretty good job.”
Catch of the day:Alex Rios made a standout catch in the fourth inning Sunday, slamming into the right-field fence and taking away a 2-run homer from Corey Hart.Rios still had imprint marks from the fence on his right arm and leg after the game, but he was feeling fine.#147;That#146;s the second time I#146;ve robbed somebody,#148; Rios said. #147;I guess it was a pretty good catch. I jumped and I kind of knew where the ball was going to be.#148;Good to go:Jake Peavy was devastated Sunday after learning close friend and Padres bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds died following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.Peavy undoubtedly will have Akerfelds in his thoughts when he starts against the Twins on Monday night at Target Field, but he is feeling fine after throwing 125 pitches in his last start, against the Cubs.That#146;s the most pitches Peavy has thrown in a game since July 27, 2008, when his pitch count was 127.#147;I feel fine,#148; Peavy said. #147;I#146;m excited to pitch tomorrow. I feel fine. Health is not an issue. It hasn#146;t been this year, knock on wood.#147;I feel blessed and I#146;ve got 3 more (starts) before the all-star break, then regroup and try to do it for 2frac12; more months.#148;