KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Jose Quintana continues to pitch well and the White Sox left-hander is confident one of these days he’s going to have something to show for it.
While Quintana pitched strong into the eighth inning, the Kansas City trio of Jeremy Guthrie, Wade Davis and Greg Holland combined on a four-hitter to beat Chicago 3-1 Wednesday night and keep the Royals’ from being swept in their three-game series.
The White Sox scored 14 runs and hit five home runs in the first two games.
Quintana (2-4) took the loss, charged with three runs on eight hits over 7 1-3 innings. He is 1-4 in his last eight starts, while being supported with only 15 runs during that span.
“The others pitched good too,” Quintana said. “I like to compete. One time I think it’ll change. I think next time it’ll be better for me. I don’t get frustrated. I only have control to pitch a good game.
“I feel a little bit sad for no win. It was a really hard game. We won the series and we’ll get ready for the next game.”
Quintana leads the majors with 31 no-decision starts since 2012, including an AL-record 17 last season.
“It happens in spurts,” White Sox designated hitter Paul Konerko said of Quintana’s run. “The streak that he’s in, I definitely remember last year it happened. He’s gone up against some quality pitchers.”
Guthrie, who is winless in seven starts since an April 9 victory over Tampa Bay, left after seven innings with the score 1-1. He gave up three hits, walked two and struck out two.
Wade Davis (3-1) struck out two in a flawless eighth and has tossed 10 scoreless innings in his last nine appearances. Greg Holland logged his 13th save in 14 chances, but not before giving up a single to Dayan Viciedo and walking Adam Dunn in the ninth. Alexei Ramirez grounded into a game ending double play.
The Royals snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth when Nori Aoki scored on Billy Butler’s sacrifice fly. Aoki started the one-out rally with a bunt single on a two-strike count. He advanced to third on Alcides Escobar’s single. Eric Hosmer was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Aoki scored on Butler’s fly to right.
“The bunt was a good play by Aoki and the double hurt us,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “The bunt with two strikes, you’ve got to be perfect and he was.”
Danny Valencia then walked on five pitches, scoring Escobar with the second run of the inning.
Konerko, who leads all active visiting players with 149 RBIs at Kauffman Stadium, singled to left in the second to score Alexei Ramirez for the Chicago’s run.
“We brought our ’A’ game,” Konerko said. “Guthrie has a good sinker and that defuses things. He gets a lot of ground balls. He pitched out of a couple of big spots. Those are spots where you can get some energy if you come out and score a couple of runs, but we just didn’t do that.”
The Royals tied it in the third when Aoki’s groundball single to left scored Pedro Ciriaco.
The Royals wasted a chance to take the lead in the fourth when they loaded the bases with one out on singles by Butler, Valencia and Lorenzo Cain. Ciriaco, however, rolled the first pitch back to the mound and left-hander Jose Quintana started an inning ending double play.
NOTES: RHP Matt Lindstrom, who tops the White Sox with six saves, will have left ankle surgery to repair a torn sheath Friday and is expected to be out three months. RHP Ronald Belisario will close out White Sox games in his absence. . White Sox LHP Chris Sale will come off the disabled list Thursday and start against the Yankees, his first outing since April 17. The White Sox made room on the roster by designating righty reliever Frank Francisco for assignment. With Sale going back into the rotation, rookie right-hander Scott Carroll, who is 1-3 with a 6.49 ERA in five starts, will move into the bullpen. . The Royals’ 20 home runs rank last in the majors.
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