CHICAGO -- The identity of the White Sox’s offense as of late has been that of a power-hitting unit, one that has been able to sustain leads or mount comebacks with a mighty swing.

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David Banks/Getty ImagesJose Quintana got little help from his teammates at the plate in Wednesday's 2-1 loss.

But for the second straight game, those big bats were absent in the presence of serviceable starting pitching. Neither terrible nor great, rookie Jose Quintana pitched well but failed to get any run support in the Sox’s 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

“He threw the ball really well,” catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. “He deserved a better fate but we only scored one run.”

Pierzynski was responsible for that lone run with his RBI single in the ninth. Quintana, who threw on eight days rest, went seven-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking two. Quintana gave up two home runs, one to Mike Moustakas in the second inning and another to Salvador Perez in the fourth, and the Sox lefty said the latter was his mistake.

Like Jake Peavy on Tuesday, Quintana hasn’t received much run support this season; the Sox have scored two runs or less in eight of his starts this season. Quintana remained optimistic, though.

“It's one of those that right now I'm not getting much run support but that'll change and then we'll be winning a lot of games and getting a lot of run support,” he said through a team translator. “It's something that I talked to Peavy about. He was just saying as of right now it's just a bit of bad luck but that'll change and that's part of the game.”

The White Sox entered Wednesday’s game having hit a home run in 12 straight home games, but during the last five games they’re hitting just .107 with runners in scoring position. While Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie entered the game with an 0-3 mark and 7.71 ERA, Adam Dunn said the Sox knew better than to overlook him. Guthrie recorded season highs in innings pitched (eight) and strikeouts (six).

“You’re not going to talk to anyone who knows baseball that says he doesn’t have good stuff,” Dunn said. “He’s got great stuff. But usually it seems like you’re going to get a pitch or two to hit. Tonight we did but we didn’t do anything with them. He didn’t make mistakes.”