Jose Quintana beamed while describing the attention the first all-Colombian pitching matchup in major league history was getting in his home nation.
“I think Colombia won today,” he said.
Quintana bested countryman Julio Teheran, while Todd Frazier hit his 25th homer as the Chicago White Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday.
Photo: AFP
A Colombian flag hung outside a suite down the left field line to celebrate the milestone. The pitchers were born about 50km apart in the northern department of Bolivar.
“Teheran is my friend and we have a good relationship,” Quintana said. “Facing him at this level, that’s good for the country. I enjoyed this game and I took the win. That’s great for me.”
Frazier, who is to vie for his second straight Home Run Derby title today, hit a two-run shot in the second and an RBI double in Chicago’s three-run third. He also connected in Friday night’s 11-8 loss in the series opener.
Photo: AFP
“I feel stronger, I feel more relaxed, a little quicker swing,” Frazier said. “For me, it’s hitting good pitches. I say this all the time, if I’m swinging outside the zone I’m going to have some trouble. I feel really good at the plate right now.”
Teheran (3-8) allowed five runs and nine hits over six innings. The All-Star, who missed his last start with an infection in his right thigh, enjoyed facing Quintana.
“We’re pretty close,” Teheran said. “Sometimes in the off-season we get to work together. It was exciting to be able to pitch against him.”
Quintana (7-8) won his second straight start, despite giving up home runs to Gordon Beckham, Jeff Francoeur and Freddie Freeman in six innings.
Chicago had scored 13 runs in Quintana’s past 10 starts. With a strong wind aiding fly balls, the left-hander allowed four runs and five hits, but he got the support he needed this time around.
White Sox rookie shortstop Tim Anderson went 2 for 4, giving him multiple hits in 13 of his 27 major league games.
Atlanta had chances in the last two innings.
Zach Duke replaced Quintana and got four straight outs. Chase d’Arnaud then doubled off Matt Albers.
After a groundout, the White Sox walked Freeman intentionally.
Nate Jones then struck out Nick Markakis, who had hit three homers in two games.
With closer David Robertson unavailable due to injury, Jones came out for the ninth and allowed one-out singles to Adonis Garcia and A.J. Pierzynski.
A wild pitch put runners on second and third. Jones struck out Erick Aybar before walking ninth-place hitter Ender Inciarte.
“If you have bases loaded, you’ve got every base to be able to get a force out,” manager Robin Ventura said.
Jones got his third save by retiring d’Arnaud on a grounder to third on the first pitch. Fans in yellow Colombia shirts above their flag cheered.
“I think we have better baseball now,” Quintana said. “It’s good for us and I’m proud.”
The Braves’ C. Tyler Flowers left with a left hand injury in the second inning.
“I had a checked swing my first at-bat and felt something not good,” Flowers said.
Pierzynski, a member of Chicago’s 2005 World Series-winning team, replaced him and was greeted with a standing ovation.
In other games, it was:
‧ Pirates 12, Cubs 6
‧ Red Sox 4, Rays 1
‧ Giants 4, Diamondbacks 2
‧ Nationals 6, Mets 1
‧ Tigers 3, Blue Jays 2
‧ Orioles 3, Angels 2
‧ Yankees 7, Indians 6, 11 inns.
‧ Cardinals 8, Brewers 1
‧ Dodgers 4, Padres 3
‧ Rockies 8, Phillies 3
‧ Royals 5, Mariners 3
‧ Athletics 3, Astros 2
‧ Marlins 4, Reds 2
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