IN BRIEF Despite loss, Quintana feels strong

BALTIMORE — White Sox manager Robin Ventura isn’t convinced it’s time to give rookie left-hander Jose Quintana a breather.

“We’re at where we’re at,’’ Ventura said. “You just kept plugging him in. It’s just one of those games where they got him.’’

Toiling under the heaviest workload he has had to endure as a pitcher, Quintana was roughed up for five runs and seven hits in the Sox’ 5-3 loss Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles.

A control specialist who had walked four in each of his two previous starts, the 23-year-old walked only one in his 3⅔-inning outing, and he retired the first eight Orioles he faced. But with two outs in the third, he gave up five consecutive extra-base hits, including home runs by Taylor

and Adam Jones. Quintana pitched 102 innings last season for the Yankees’ Class A team in Tampa, Fla., almost doubling his previous career high. He’s at 162⅓ this season, including 48⅔ at Class AA Birmingham. He said he feels better than fine.

“I feel strong,’’ Quintana said. “That hasn’t changed. I just have to make some adjustments and look at the mistakes I made today and go from there.

“It’s hard to say how it went from feeling good starting off to it really going [downhill] quick. The only thing I can say is I was leaving balls down the middle. And the ball was just getting away from me.’’ rarily sent to Birmingham after pitching the Sox to an 8-1 victory Wednesday night, clearing a roster spot for Lopez. Axelrod will return with September roster expansion and is expected to start for the Sox on Monday night against the Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field.