MINNEAPOLIS -- In the White Sox version of man biting dog, Jose Quintana did not turn in a quality start during Chicago's 8-5 loss Thursday night at Target Field, ending Minnesota's 13-game losing streak.
Quintana had pitched eight straight of the quality variety prior to this rough outing. He also allowed two home runs over five innings, after yielding four long balls in those past eight trips to the mound combined.
From the not-so-surprising category was the White Sox offense not being able to score consistently, despite knocking Minnesota starter Ervin Santana around the park through five innings. The White Sox got to him for 11 hits and two walks, but managed just two runs and stranded 10 during that time, finishing 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
"We left a lot of guys out there," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You look up there, we left 10 guys at one point and they cashed everybody in. When you see you left 10 guys and they didn't leave any at one point, that really tells the tale more than Q."
Quintana's tale started with the first four hitters retired, before the southpaw allowed five straight hits. The last time Quintana gave up five hits in an inning was June 22, in the third inning at Fenway Park, when the Red Sox scored four runs on five hits.
The home runs were what troubled Quintana the most. Trevor Plouffe launched a two-run shot in the fifth and Byron Buxton capped off the five-run second with a three-run blast to left.
"I missed a spot. I was ahead in the count and tried to go back foot," said Quintana of the 1-2 curveball launched by Buxton. "You know that happens sometimes, but it was a big mistake in that inning. That's a really bad one, when that happens early in the game. Sometimes you give up five runs. I try to throw a good pitch, but I missed a spot this time.
"But the two homers were what changed the game. I didn't give up too many base hits, but I missed a spot a couple of times and I paid for that."
Minnesota's next 10 hitters were retired in order after Buxton's homer, before Joe Mauer singled and Plouffe homered in the fifth. It was a rare off-night for the American League Cy Young contender, despite striking out eight and not issuing a walk. It was nothing out of the ordinary for the White Sox to lose within the division, dropping to 20-33 in the American League Central and 7-21 on the road against Minnesota, Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit.