Jose Quintana notches his 10th victory in 4-2 win

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Chicago White Sox starter Jose Quintana celebrates with teammates as he walks back to the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) ORG XMIT: CXS118

BY TONI GINNETTI — For the Sun-Times

First-year White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier couldn’t believe pitcher Jose Quintana never had 10 victories in a season.

“I asked him `how many years do you have?’ He said like four. He’s had three with nine wins. I didn’t know he never had 10.’’

The Sox lefty can check that off his goal list now.

“He was yelling and screaming like a little kid,’’ Frazier said of Quintana, who held the Oakland Athletics to a two-run homer by Khris Davis Sunday in a 4-2 victory— his 10th of the year. “Sometimes you have to bring it back to that, to how you used to play when you were little.’’

For Quintana, who also became an All Star this season for the first time, the goal of 10 victories should have been accomplished before. But 12 no-decisions in the last two years made Quintana (10-9) one of the game’s best without the record to show for it.

“This is really special for me,’’ he said. “This year when the year started, that was my first goal. I want to get more than 10 wins to help my team, but I’m really happy. Now I’ll try to get more wins.’’

His teammates were as happy for the resilient lefty, who has carried the disappointment of no-decisions and often-meager run support with never a disparaging word.

“I know the guys are happy about it, that they’re able to get one for him,’’ manager Robin Ventura said. “For as well as he’s pitched over his years here, for him to get 10 is nice.’’

Quintana got out of his own trouble in the first after A’s runners were at second and third with one out. He struck out Davis, and then got Ryon Healy to fly out to center.

The Sox gave Quintana all the runs he would need in the first with a three-run, four hit inning off rookie Zach Neal (2-3).

Jose Abreu (16th) added a homer for good measure in the fourth, his second in as many days.

As important was stellar defense from the Sox, including a highlight-reel diving catch in center by J. B Shuck off Brett Elbner’s sinking line drive in the fourth, and a first-to-shortstop-to-first double play in the second.

“They played good defense, especially early in the game,’’ Quintana said. “That’s good when you can see that behind you.

“It was special and it was fun. I enjoyed this game.’’

Quintana worked into the eighth, scattering eight hits and striking out six. His first walk came when Jake Smolinski led the 8th, and he was the last batter Quintana faced.

Nate Jones and David Robertson (32ndsave) finished.

“We did enough offensively to do it for him,’’ Ventura said. “Especially [getting runs] early for him, that helps a lot. With the lack of run support that he’s had over a period of time, it looked a little bit like this would be his day.’’

Frazier had his own good day, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI and his 10thstolen base of the season.

It put him in the company of Jermaine Dye, Carlos Lee, Magglio Ordonez, Carlton Fisk and Dick Allen as the only Sox players to have at least 10 steals and 30-plus homers in one season.

“Just attacking,’’ Frazier said of his approach. “Basically wherever it is, stay within the strike zone.

“Getting back there feels pretty good,’’ he added, mindful of hitting only .212 this season despite his 31 homers.

“I just hope he keeps it going,’’ Ventura said. “We all know he can hit homers, but he’s more of a player than that and he knows it.’’

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