Athletics hammer Jose Quintana, White Sox in 16-6 rout

Mar 18, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop

(8) hits a three run home run in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

This afternoon’s start is one that Jose Quintana will have to watch – repeatedly. Simply put, he has a lot to learn from it.

The young southpaw allowed nine earned runs on seven hits against the Oakland Athletics Tuesday afternoon, and was pulled before he even recorded an out in the Cactus League contest. When the dust settled and the crowds departed, the Quintana (0-2, 30.00 ERA) and the White Sox were losers by a 16-6 tally.

A three-run home run by shortstop Jed Lowrie opened the scoring in the top of the first, but three RBI singles, an RBI double and an RBI triple later, a three-run deficit had grown to a 9-0 hole that Chicago never came close to climbing its way out of.

Oakland recorded 20 hits on the afternoon, making the White Sox hitters’ nine seem measly in comparison. Once Quintana departed, the Chicago relief corps struggled as well, allowing seven runs over its nine innings of work.

Chicago attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth against A’s right-hander Nolan Sanburn, but managed just three runs, the first of which came via a groundout off the bat of Micah Johnson, scoring Matt Davidson from third. A two-run shot from Jordan Danks with two outs made it a 16-6 ballgame, but that was as close as the White Sox would come.

A positive note came in the form of three home runs launched by the White Sox. Connor Gillaspie hit his third of the spring, Tyler Flowers hit his second and Danks hit his team-leading fourth of Cactus League play.

Oakland hit a robust 11-for-22 with runners in scoring position Tuesday, which trumped the White Sox mark of 2-for-5. Athletics starting pitcher Jesse Chavez (4-0, 1.04 ERA) continued his impressive spring, allowing just two runs in 4 2/3 innings of work.