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 The Chicago White Sox rookie left-hander worked six scoreless
innings while first baseman Jose Abreu clubbed his 10th homer of the
season in a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
"Today wasn't (Rodon's) best command day but you can see the
maturity coming out," said White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers.
Rodon had runners on base in four of his six innings, including
bases full of Astros in the fourth.
"I had some tough situations there early on, but a big play by
Gordon (Beckham in the fourth) defensively were great and two big
plays by Melky (Cabrera) out there on line drives that were tough to
catch," he said.
Rodon (2-0) allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five and
ended a run of four consecutive no-decisions to claim his first win
since May 9.
The White Sox (27-30) captured their second straight victory and
first series since taking two of three from the Astros in Houston in
late May.
The loss was the sixth straight for Houston (34-26), which still
sits atop the American League West.
A two-run ninth-inning rally fell short but was encouraging to
Astros manager A.J. Hinch.
"We certainly put some fight up at the end and we had opportunities
before the end, too," he said. "But they got a big hit when they
needed it, they tacked on when they only had a two-run lead. They
completed a complete game."
Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel (7-2) worked seven innings and
gave up two runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out
five.
Abreu, who went 2-for-4, drove in shortstop Alexei Ramirez with his
two-run homer in the sixth. Ramirez beat out an infield single to
open the inning.
Abreu's homer came on Keuchel's 1-1 pitch and landed just beyond the
right-field wall for the first runs of the game.
"I was trying to induce some weak contact and he put a big barrel on
it, he's a strong guy," said Keuchel. "I had some good success
against him but I tip my cap to him."
Chicago added two critical runs in the eighth after loading the
bases on Astros right-handed reliever Chad Qualls.
Cabrera's double over Preston Tucker reached the left-field wall,
allowing Abreu and right fielder Avisail Garcia to score.
Cabrera went 2-for-3 and "had some pretty good at-bats tonight,"
said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "That last one became very
important. You want to be able to add on and he did that."
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Right-handed reliever Josh Fields, who replaced Qualls, walked
Beckham to again load the bases with none out. But Fields struck out
the next three batters to quell further threats.
Houston cut the deficit to 4-2 when shortstop Carlos Correa --
playing in just his second major league game -- slammed a two-run
homer to left off White Sox left-handed reliever Zach Duke with none
out in the ninth.
"He's very impressive," said Ventura. "Usually you'll see some
jitters or something. He's not rushed. He's a major league player
and he's going to give people fits for a long time."
Right-handed reliever David Robertson gave up a base hit to catcher
Hank Conger but got the next three batters out for his 12th save.
The Astros loaded the bases with one out in the fourth but failed to
score. Rodon struck out third baseman Luis Valbuena and then got
center fielder Jake Marisnick to ground to short for an
inning-ending fielder's choice.
NOTES: Despite enduring a five-game losing streak entering Tuesday,
the Astros still had the franchise's second-best start (34-25)
through 59 games. The 1999 team was 36-23 in the same span. The
Astros lost their sixth straight Tuesday. ... Houston's 34 wins were
also the most in the American League. ... Houston SS Carlos Correa's
hit and RBI on Monday made him the youngest shortstop (20) with both
in a major league debut since Starlin Castro on May 7, 2010. ... RHP
Vincent Velasquez makes his debut against White Sox LHP Jose
Quintana (2-6, 2.48 ERA) Wednesday in the series finale. ...
Wednesday's start will be the 99th of Quintana's career. ... With 14
strikeouts Monday in a 3-1 victory over the Astros, Chicago LHP
Chris Sale joined Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax as the only major
league pitchers since 1900 to record three straight starts of at
least 12 strikeouts and one or no runs allowed. ... After drafting
Vanderbilt RHP Carson Fulmer with the No. 8 overall pick Monday, the
White Sox didn't get another chance until No. 112 in the fourth
round on Tuesday and nabbed Clemson LHP Zack Ervin.
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