White Sox split series with Tigers; lose 7-4
Apr 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jose Quintana allowed just three runs in six innings, but it wasn’t enough for the Chicago White Sox to win their first series on the road this season, dropping Thursday’s game to the Detroit Tigers, 7-4.
The series was a split between the two teams.
Quintana gave up the three earned runs on seven hits and no walks, with three strikeouts.
His opposite on the mound, Max Scherzer, was the winning pitcher. The reigning AL Cy Young award winner also went seven innings and allowed seven hits. The difference was Scherzer allowed just two earned runs with 10 strikeouts.
Both pitchers even gave up a home run.
Though Quintana dropped to 1-2 on the season, his ERA is still under 4.00 at 3.90, and he pitched well when faced against a good Tigers team, especially when they had Scherzer on the mound opposite him.
The bullpen woes returned as Maikel Cleto and Daniel Webb pitched a combined two innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks.
Apr 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Daniel Webb (40) pitches in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Again, this bullpen shows just how inconsistent it really is. They will have a good game and follow it with a performance like they had today.
Also, the batters of the White Sox with runners in scoring position failed to show up as they were just 2-for-9 with eight runners stranded. The Tigers were 6-for-10. Jose Abreu left five runners on the bases, and Gordon Beckham left four stranded.
Beckham, who made his 2014 debut as he was activated before the game, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Abreu was one worse, finishing 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Not a good day for these two. In all, the White Sox struck out 15 times.
Neither team really had one big inning, with no more than two runs scored by a team, per inning, in this game.
The White Sox scored one run in the second and sixth, then in the eighth had two runs. The Tigers had one run in the third, fourth and fifth, then two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings.
Other White Sox thoughts:
• Back to Beckham … hope by the end of the week he improves, but this was like his Opening Day of the season.
• This series turned out a lot better than I figured it would without Chris Sale pitching.
• The Sox are one game under .500 at 11-12. They just can’t seem to put a string of wins together thus far.
• I’d like to see Adam Eaton this weekend on the field, don’t know how realistic that hope is though.
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