White Sox not deterred by delays, top Cards
ST. LOUIS -- After wading through a rain-delayed start and two subsequent in-game weather stoppages, the White Sox completed their two-game stop at Busch Stadium with a 7-1 victory on Wednesday to secure back-to-back wins over the Cardinals.
Melky Cabrera's leadoff homer off Cards starter John Lackey in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and helped lift the White Sox to consecutive road wins for the first time since May. The Cardinals, on the other hand, suffered back-to-back home losses for just the second time all year.
Chicago starter Jose Quintana tiptoed around trouble throughout his six-inning start, yet he limited the Cardinals to only a first-inning run. Quintana struck out eight.
"I thought we had a little bit of an opportunity there to make something happen," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of his offense not doing more with two first-inning hits off Quintana. "He worked his way out of it, and didn't give us a whole lot after that."
Lackey finished seven innings, but allowed a two-out RBI single to Adam Eaton in the fifth before serving up Cabrera's blast an inning later.
While they are 25 games over .500 on the season, the Cardinals are now 8-9 against the American League Central. The White Sox, who got five insurance runs in the ninth inning, two on a homer by Tyler Flowers, improved to 6-6 in Interleague action.
"I mean with the weather, even when we got in here on Sunday, I think what we saw they went through on Sunday [a delayed game vs. the Cubs], you figured you had a pretty good chance of doing that tonight," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of the rain delays. "I thought Q did a good job of staying with it, the starts and stops. He did great."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Cabrera connects: There has been a power outage for Cabrera this season, but he delivered when the White Sox needed him Wednesday. Cabrera went deep on a 1-2 cutter from Lackey to open the sixth to give the White Sox a 2-1 advantage. It was Cabrera's third home run of the season in his 297th at-bat.
Scoring opportunities stalled: Following an 0-for-9 night with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, the Cards went hitless in seven such opportunities in the series finale. They ended four different innings with a runner stranded in scoring position against Quintana, and struck out six times (all swinging) after a runner advanced to second or third.
"His fastball was really sneaky," Cardinals infielder Mark Reynolds said of Quintana. "He kind of short-arms it, and it gets on you. We weren't able to string much together against him." More >
Video: CWS@STL: Matheny on loss, missed opportunities
Quintana creates his own support: With one out in the sixth, Reynolds lined a shot to center that seemed to catch Eaton in-between in trying to make the play. Eaton slipped and fell in the process, with Reynolds ending up on third. But Quintana fanned Randal Grichuk and Yadier Molina flied out to center to preserve the one-run lead.
"I just tried to come back [after the delays] and bring my best stuff and get the win," Quintana said.
Video: CWS@STL: Quintana fans eight, holds Cards to one run
Hustling home: The Cardinals raced out to a 1-0 lead with some aggressive baserunning by second baseman Kolten Wong in the first inning. Third-base coach Jose Oquendo boldly waved Wong home on Jhonny Peralta's double to left. Sliding to the outside of home, Wong was able to touch the plate with his hand just ahead of the tag.
QUOTABLE
"It was awesome, definitely felt like all the years were worth it. Most importantly, all my family and friends, they were able to come out and see me. It's special for me and everybody else who has stuck with me throughout the years." -- Cardinals reliever Marcus Hatley, on making his Major League debut after nine seasons in the Minors.
Video: CWS@STL: Hatley fans Beckham for first career K
ROSTER MOVE
After the game, Matheny announced that left-hander Tim Cooney will be recalled from Triple-A to make a spot-start on Thursday. The Cardinals had a rotation vacancy to fill once it was determined that Jaime Garcia (left groin strain) would be unable to pitch until next week. A corresponding move to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for Cooney will be made on Thursday.
WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox: John Danks takes the mound Friday against the Orioles to begin the final homestand of the first half after his start was skipped following last Saturday's rainout in Detroit. Danks went winless during the month of June. First pitch at U.S. Cellular Field is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT.
Cardinals: The Cardinals will see the Padres for the first time this season as San Diego comes to Busch Stadium for a four-game series beginning on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT. The Cardinals will summon Cooney for the start in place of Garcia. Cooney has made one Major League appearance.
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