ChiSox’ Jose Quintana Had Perfect Game Against Red Sox Through Five Innings

We had a perfect game in the works at Fenway Park until Stephen Drew and David Ross drew back-to-back walks to get on base in the sixth inning for Boston, breaking up a perfect game by Chicago’s Jose Quintana. Then Jackie Bradley Jr. stepped to the plate and knocked in a run with the Red Sox first hit of the game when he lined an RBI single off Quintana.

Quintana and Jon Lester are locked in pitchers’ duel this afternoon but the Red Sox did not have a base runner through the first five innings — 15 up, 15 down while the White Sox were on top 1-0. Then Drew stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Red Sox and drew a walk and Ross followed to put two runners on with no out in the sixth. JBJ then tied the game with the Sox first hit.

Quintana had been outstanding in the no-hit effort, striking out six Red Sox through five innings.

The Red Sox appeared to have a big hit with two outs in the fourth inning when David Ortiz drilled a ball into the triangle in center field, but ChiSox center fielder Adam Eaton made a magnificent running catch over his head on the warning in full sprint.

Quintana has pitched well recently, going 2-0 with a 0.94 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings over his last four starts before today’s game. The southpaw had thrown 15 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings entering this afternoon’s tilt.

Meanwhile Lester is having himself a terrific afternoon, with 10 strikeouts through five innings. The only damage came in the first inning when Jose Abreu drove in the only run of the game with a double. That was first earned run scored off Lester in his last three starts.