Jose Quintana can finally get the number nine out of his head.
Quintana picked up his 10th win of the season, a career high, on Sunday after finishing with nine wins in each of the last three years.
The 27-year-old southpaw pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits while striking out six in the White Sox 4-2 win over the Oakland Athletics at U.S. Cellular Field.
"This is really special for me," Quintana said. "This year, when the year started, that’s my first goal. I want to get more than 10 wins to help my team, but I’m really happy. I’ll try to get more wins.
"All the guys, teammates, celebrated that with me. It was fun. It was really good. Every time I try to get better and better and finally I get my 10th win."
Todd Frazier, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, said Quintana was "yelling and screaming like a little kid" in the clubhouse after the game.
"He was excited. You should have seen him over there a little bit ago," Frazier said. "Just happy for him. He works his butt off. He comes in here every day and doesn’t say a boo about anything and just plays ball."
MLB
Quintana moved to 10-9 on the season and earned his 19th quality start of the season, tied for the most in the American League. He now owns a 1.91 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break, and lowered his overall ERA to 2.84 as the White Sox improved to 59-64 on the season.
"Every time I think, I have more experience now and that’s special this year to make the All-Star team and get 10 wins and try to get more," Quintana said. "That’s really important for me and the best point here is to help my team."
The White Sox offense got off to a hot start for the second consecutive day. Justin Morneau got the scoring started in the first with an RBI double. One batter later, Frazier drove in two with a single to put the White Sox up 3-0.
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The A’s got on the board in the fourth with a two-run homer by Khris Davis, his 32nd of the year. But Jose Abreu responded in the bottom of the inning, smacking a homer of his own, a solo shot. It was his second straight day going deep and 16th home run of the season.
That was enough run support to help Quintana reach his milestone.
"I know the guys are happy about it that they're able to get one for him, that something didn't happen," Ventura said. "It wasn't a no-decision. He pitched well. He gave up the homer and it looked like they were starting to get a little momentum going, but he just has a way to toughen up and get after it.
"Everybody's happy for him. He deserves it and we did enough offensively to do it for him."
Nate Jones pitched one shutout inning in the eighth, while David Robertson closed out the game in the ninth, securing his 32nd save of the season.
The White Sox open their series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.