Jose Quintana And White Sox Defeat Red Sox 4-1 For Third Straight Win

Left-hander Jose Quintana pitched eight strong innings to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 4-1 home victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, their third straight win that puts them at the top of the AL Central.

Jose Quintana And White Sox Defeat Red Sox 3-1 For Third Straight Win

First baseman Jose Abreu led on offense with two hits and three RBIs as Chicago ran its record to 19-8 for its best start since it had the same record in 2006. The White Sox, who just released veteran pitcher John Danks, have now won nine of 11 games overall.

Danks, who spent 10 years with Chicago, has not been the same since undergoing left shoulder surgery in 2012.

Hanley Ramirez’s solo homer to right field in the fifth ended Quintana’s scoreless streak at 20 1-3 innings, but the left-hander bounced back by retiring both Travis Shaw and Chris Young with a pair of grounders. He also struck out three in a row following Xander Bogaert’s leadoff single in the seventh, including swinging strikeouts of Shaw and David Ortiz. 

The Red Sox offense appeared to struggle at several instances during the game. First, Ortiz’s big fly ball to lead off the second inning almost went far, but was roped in at the wall by White Sox center-fielder Austin Jackson. Then, In the third inning, Chicago’s Adam Eaton robbed Jackie Bradley Jr. of extra bases with a running, over-the-shoulder catch.

After Abreu’s two-run double bumped Chicago’s lead to 4-1, Red Sox right-hander Junichi Tazawa gave way to Matt Barnes, who sealed the win for the White Sox with the bases loaded.

The two teams are set to replay each other in Chicago on Wednesday night.

PHOTO: CHICAGO, IL – MAY 03: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox attempts to turn a double play over Adam Eaton #1 of the Chicago White Sox in the 1st inning at U.S. Cellular Field on May 3, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)