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 he hard-throwing rookie, a left-hander, escaped a first-inning jam
and used it to fuel the best outing of his career in Chicago's 3-0
victory against the Los Angeles Angels, their second in as many
days.
During that key first inning, Rodon fanned Angels stars Mike Trout
(0-for-4) and Albert Pujols (0-for-4) for the first two outs, with
two runners on base.
"For him this is the first go-around, and he knows exactly who those
guys are," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I'm sure he's
watched them for the last couple of years and heard about them. I
thought he handled it great. From then on, I don't think there was
the question of trying to feel for it. He was just letting it go."
After the first, the 22-year old Rodon made the White Sox look wise
for taking him third overall in the 2014 draft. He's struggled with
command issues almost all season, but his only walk against the
Angels was drawn by Shane Victorino, L.A.'s first hitter of the
game. Rodon filled the strike zone for the rest of his start and
finished with a career-best seven innings and career high 11
strikeouts -- twice striking out Trout and Pujols.
Asked if whiffing two of the game's best hitters in the first
snapped him into a good rhythm the rest of his outing, Rodon nodded.
"Yeah, you could say that," he said. "You walk the first guy and
then you've got to hone in on the strike zone and just try to make
pitches. I've been trying to get seven innings this whole year and
it just hadn't been happening for me. So, it's good to finally get
that in."
It was the second double-digit strikeout game of the season and
brief career for Rodon, which made him the third White Sox rookie to
accomplish that feat.
The last White Sox rookie to do it was Jason Bere in 1993. The 11
strikeouts for Rodon are the second-highest in a game for a White
Sox rookie, with Bere's 12 against the Angels in 1993 the most.
Melky Cabrera, filling the designated hitter role for Chicago, led
the way offensively by going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Left fielder Trayce Thompson, another Chicago rookie, added his
first career homer in the fifth off Angels starter Hector Santiago.
Chicago's bullpen nearly spoiled Rodon's big night in the eighth,
but right-hander Jake Petricka got out of the bases-loaded
situation. Pujols hit into an inning-ending double play that was
started by Petricka fielding a ball and throwing home to catcher
Tyler Flowers for the second out. Flowers then threw to first for
the final out.
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"Actually, he made a good pitch," Pujols said. "No excuse, but I
didn't really do my job. He didn't really give me anything."
Right-handed closer David Robertson closed it out in the ninth for
his 23rd save.
The White Sox scored the game's first runs in the fourth, after
being retired in order by Santiago through the first three innings.
Tyler Saladino got the rally started with a one-out single for
Chicago's first hit before first baseman Jose Abreu was hit by
pitch. Cabrera drove in Saladino and Abreu with a double, and
Thompson's homer made it 3-0 an inning later.
After a few unreturned high-fives in the dugout, Thompson was mobbed
in a mass of celebratory hugs and pats on the back.
Rodon took it from there. He retired the Angels in order in the
sixth, including his second strikeout of Pujols to end the frame.
"It's part of the game," Pujols said. "It's stuff that happens. You
think I want to get myself out? I want to come through every time,
but it doesn't happen."
NOTES: White Sox OF J.B. Shuck (left hamstring strain) and UTL
Emilio Bonifacio (left oblique strain) are each close to starting
rehab assignments in the minor leagues. "Once they go out and start
playing, we're going to get a better idea of what they can do,"
manager Robin Ventura said Tuesday. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia
said LHP C.J. Wilson had a scheduled meeting with Dr. Neal
ElAttrache on Tuesday for a second evaluation of his injured left
elbow. Scioscia said he didn't know what the recommendation was
following the meeting. An earlier MRI showed Wilson has bone spurs
in his elbow. ... Scioscia said the Angels are monitoring the
innings of LHP Andrew Heaney, who started the season at Triple-A
Salt Lake. Heaney has thrown 129 2/3 innings between Triple-A and
the Angels. He threw 166 2/3 innings between the minor and major
leagues last season for the Miami Marlins. ... Joe Torre and Jim
Leyland, representing Major League Baseball, visited with the Angels
on Tuesday to deliver an update on various topics, including
baseball's use of instant replay.
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