Chicago White Sox: Carlos Rodon gains 2nd career win
Chicago White Sox rookie Carlos Rodon didn’t have his best stuff, but very good pitching to lead the White Sox to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros Tuesday night.
Rodon (2-0), who gained his second career MLB win, pitched six innings, where he allowed no runs on four hits and two walks, as he did have to work out of a tough jam in the fourth inning along the way to the victory.
In that fourth inning, Rodon allowed a single by Preston Tucker and followed that up by hitting Chris Carter with a pitch. After a line out, Rodon walked Hank Conger to load the bases with one out.
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Whatever Don Cooper and Tyler Flowers said during a mound visit with Rodon must have worked because the rookie came back with a strikeout of Luis Valbuena and a ground out of Jake Marisnick to end the inning with no runs scored.
That was a true big league moment for Rodon, and he passed with flying colors. After the aforementioned fourth inning, the rookie retired the next six batters he faced in the game and the final eight overall batters who stepped to the plate against him.
The left-hander struck out five in the win and now has a season ERA of 2.66 in what was his ninth appearance (sixth start) with the White Sox in 2015.
It is scary to think just how good Rodon can and will be once he really gains some MLB experience this season and in future seasons with the White Sox.
Jun 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) hits a two run home run against Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) during the sixth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
As for the rest of the White Sox during Tuesday’s win, there was a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Jose Abreu, his 10th of the season, for a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the eighth, Melky Cabrera delivered the goods with a two-run double to left field to score Abreu and Avisail Garcia for what was a four-run lead.
The Astros scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Zach Duke, which forced the White Sox to go back to their closer in David Robertson, who ended the game with three consecutive outs, including a swinging strikeout of Colby Rasmus for his 12th save of the season.
In all, the White Sox out-hit the Astros, 10-7.
But this night for me was about the continued maturation of Rodon and the poise he is showing on the mound when he does get into jams. He passes these tests more often than he fails at them, and eventually he won’t load the bases, and what will batters do against him then?
Right now, opposing batters gain momentum on Rodon by having multiple base runners, but the rookie just continues to show focus and does his job … keeping the opposition from gaining the big inning.
Next: Zack Erwin drafted by the White Sox