MINNEAPOLIS -- Chicago manager Rick Renteria contemplated sending right-hander Miguel Gonzalez back out for the seventh inning.
Instead, rather than set up a fourth meeting with leadoff batter James Dozier, Renteria elected to close the book on another solid showing by Gonzalez. Late-game theatrics overshadowed a fifth straight quality start for Gonzalez, who spun six innings of three-run ball in the eventual 5-4 loss to the Twins on Thursday at Target Field.
For Gonzalez, it was his eighth quality start over his past nine outings.
"He's thrown extremely well," Renteria said. "I thought towards the end, he worked through some situations to keep himself in the ballgame. We even considered going back out to get Dozier, but we thought twice about it. He gave us a good outing."
But what made his latest performance -- and his recent stretch -- impressive is the fact Gonzalez is doing so with the possibility that he could be dealt at any moment. Renteria even admitted prior to the series finale that he was surprised Gonzalez was still with the club.
Thursday's waiver Trade Deadline didn't appear to faze Gonzalez.
"I'm not thinking about it, honestly," Gonzalez said. "If something happens, then it's meant to be. If it doesn't, then I'm here all the way with the White Sox."
Gonzalez has certainly done his part on the mound to turn some heads. Since the All-Star break, the 33-year-old has only allowed more than three runs in a game once. Entering Thursday, his 2.94 second-half ERA was 15th best in the Majors.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Gonzalez in the finale, though. Minnesota collected five doubles off him, including consecutive two-baggers in the fifth inning to spoil a potential victory. He worked around trouble in nearly every inning, frequently falling behind in the count.
But Gonzalez did what he had to do to limit the damage, and he gave Chicago a chance to avoid the sweep. It is something Gonzalez has continued to do for the past couple months, despite the possibility of being shipped at any moment.
"I think everybody controls their own destiny," Renteria said. "We are all human beings. All of us, no matter what, are always worried about things on the exterior. For the most part, he's shown that he's a guy that's focused. He's a professional and knows he has job to do."