Quintana throws seven shutout innings, White Sox beat Royals 6-1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jose Quintana pitched seven scoreless innings and Alexei Ramirez hit a three-run homer as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 Saturday night.
Quintana (8-10) defeated the Royals for the first time in 17 career starts after losing his first six decisions.
Quintana is 4-1 in nine starts since July 24 and yielded five doubles -- including two to Kendrys Morales. He struck out four and walked none.
Ramirez homered for his eighth hit in nine at-bats in the fourth inning with Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia aboard. Ramirez was down in the count 1-2 before parking a Danny Duffy curveball over the left-center wall.
Geovany Soto hit a solo homer in the seventh, his fifth home run in 21 games.
Duffy (7-7) was pulled after seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking two.
The White Sox padded their lead with two outs in the ninth when Adam Eaton and Melky Cabrera delivered run-producing singles off rookie left-hander Scott Alexander.
The Royals, who scored 27 runs in beating Detroit on Wednesday and Thursday, have scored two runs in two games against the White Sox.
The Royals went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. They used three infield singles in the eighth off relievers Jake Petricka and Zach Duke for their lone run. Alex Gordon was 3 for 4 and got Lorenzo Cain home with a slow roller to third baseman Tyler Saladino.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas (strained hamstring) will likely return to the lineup Sunday. He has not started the past five games, but did pinch hit in the eighth and grounded into a double play.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Erik Johnson will make his 2015 debut after being selected the International League Most Valuable Pitcher with an 11-8 record, 2.37 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings for Triple A Charlotte.
Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto, who has allowed 17 runs in 17 innings in losing his past three starts, will start the series finale.
