White Sox, Royals suspended after 8 innings

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Friday night’s contest between the White Sox and Kansas City Royals was suspended in a 2-2 tie after 8 innings.

After the teams played in windy, wet conditions for more than four innings, umpires pulled both teams off the field in the top of the ninth. The grounds crew was constantly at work during the latter half of the game, applying dirt and raking. But a steady rain continued to fall and umpires decided to end the game, which will conclude at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday before the start of the regularly scheduled contest.

Though they continued to struggle offensively, the White Sox put together a second strong game against the defending American League champions before the contest was delayed.

Coming off the worst start of his career, Jose Quintana bounced back despite the cold, sloppy conditions.

“He battled,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “The one walk there kind of bit him. From where he was, I think right now this is the guy we're used to seeing. He battles and gives you a chance.

“They're tough, that's obvious. We're hanging in there and we're tough, too. I like our shot.”

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Quintana — who allowed nine earned runs in a loss at Detroit on Sunday — had his best command of the season. He commanded all of his pitches, throwing 63 strikes and 35 balls. 

Aside from former Sox prospect Paulo Orlando, Quintana didn’t run into much trouble. Orlando had hits in both his at-bats against Quintana, starting the third inning with a double and scoring on Alcides Escobar’s one-out single, and driving in a run with a fifth-inning single.

But Quintana didn’t get himself into many jams otherwise. He also was far more efficient, needing 21 pitches to get through two innings after he threw 42 in the first inning alone against the Tigers.

Quintana allowed two earned runs and seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts in seven innings.

The left-hander’s run support was sparing but enough to earn him the 41st no decision of his career. The White Sox — hitless in their last 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position — tied it at 1 in the fourth on Tyler Flowers’ RBI groundout. Adam Eaton then tripled to start the seventh inning and scored on Melky Cabrera’s sacrifice fly to right field.

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Royals starter Danny Duffy limited the White Sox to an unearned run and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The White Sox endured a scary moment in the third inning when Jose Abreu tripped over Escobar as he chased him in a rundown. Abreu applied the tag — though it took a review for the call to be properly made — and fell hard on to the ground, appearing to clutch his right shoulder. But after several minutes and the use of smelling salts, Abreu got up and stayed in the game.

Ventura’s reaction to believing his first baseman was lost?

“A heart attack,” Ventura said. “I'm just glad he's fine. Once he got over that you could tell he was fine.

“I think he landed on the foot of the base on his ribs. It kind of knocked the wind out him, and it was cold. At first I thought it was his wrist or something like that. When I got out there it was cold. I think there were a lot of things going on at the same time.”

Saturday’s forecast calls for more rain. Were it to be rained out, the White Sox and Royals would resume Friday’s contest before the start of Sunday’s regularly scheduled game.

 

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