Miguel Gonzalez, Jose Quintana rejoin White Sox after entertaining week at World Baseball Classic

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Miguel Gonzalez is happy there's no confusion about where he's headed.

Back in White Sox camp on Wednesday after Team Mexico's perplexing late-night exit from the World Baseball Classic on Sunday, the veteran pitcher is ready once again to focus on the regular season. 

Gonzalez loved pitching for Mexico, playing at home in front of his friends and family in Guadalajara and the overall WBC experience. But he and his teammates (see: Adrian Gonzalez) just didn't particularly care for how the experience ended. After finishing in a three-way tie, Mexico was eliminated by statistical formula after believing it had advanced to the second round with a two-run victory over Venezuela on Sunday.

"It was crazy," Gonzalez said. "It wasn't really organized. We didn't know what was going on until the next day at 10 o'clock in the morning. We were waiting on the bus until like 3 o'clock in the morning. I don't think that was right for us as players. It's supposed to be organized and it just didn't go the way we thought it was going to be."

Mexico filed a protest in the hours after its 11-9 win upon learning that Venezuela would advance because it had allowed fewer runs per inning during the tournament. Miguel Gonzalez, who allowed three runs in four innings in Mexico's second game, said the team was told it would advance to the second round if it beat Venezuela by two runs. 

"But that didn't happen," Gonzalez said. "Things didn't go our way."

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Miguel Gonzalez loved the playoff-game atmosphere of the event. Gonzalez also enjoyed the support from the more than 100 friends and family who attended and his countrymen. But just like teammate Jose Quintana, who returned to the club Tuesday after Colombia was eliminated, Gonzalez said his focus is back to the White Sox. 

"Now it's time to work here," Gonzalez said. "I'm back with the White Sox and happy to see the guys. Everyone was happy to see me. We're just going to go day by day and work hard and get our innings up."

Quintana threw 63 pitches for Colombia during a start in which he one-hit Team USA for 5 2/3 innings on Friday. He expects to reach the 75-pitch mark when he takes the mound again on Saturday, he said. Upon returning from Miami, Quintana said he relished the experience of pitching for Colombia.

"It's a different feeling when you play for your country," Quintana said. "It was so amazing. Was really fun. I take one week, spend good time with my teammates. It was fun and I was really happy to be there and enjoy it."

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