Rodon solid again, picks up the win in Detroit
Pitcher’s streak of scoreless innings ends at 16
DETROIT — During the third inning of Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Tigers, White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon faced his first real adversity of the afternoon.
He started the inning with a walk to Mikie Mahtook, then allowed a double to Grayson Greiner that put runners at second and third. After a strikeout, Rodon loaded the bases by hitting Jeimer Candelario in the foot — one pitch after what appeared to be a third strike was called a ball by homeplate umpire Jansen Visconti.
For what it’s worth, MLB.com’s Gameday pitch tracker placed the third-pitch “ball” well inside its strike-zone box.
Rodon bore down and kept the damage minimal. Two singles led to three runs before an inningending double play. Rodon’s streak ofscorelessinningsendedat16 1⁄3, but the Sox were still in the game.
Rodon could have had a meltdown — and by his own admission he probably would have in his younger days. Instead, he pitched eight innings for the second consecutive game and recorded his seventh straight quality start.
“I tried to not let it get to me,” Rodon said. “I gave up three runs but ended up going deep in the game. When I was younger, I’d throw a fit and be out of there.”
Rodon (4-3, 2.69 ERA) answered the rocky third with five scoreless innings. He struck out six while allowing five hits and a walk.
“I think he’s matured a lot,” Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “It still doesn’t take away the sting of when you’ve made a pitch to get an out but you have to regroup. He obviously did.”
As Rodon has gotten stronger since offseason shoulder surgery, Renteria has noticed the lefthander’s skill evolve.
“You see the velocity go up, you see the intensity and focus of making a pitch start to shine a little bit more,” Renteria said.
After Rodon departed with a 6-3 lead built on two-run homers from Matt Davidson and Jose Abreu, it got scary for the Sox in the ninth.
The first two Tigers reached on a walk and infield single against Jeanmar Gomez. After a strikeout, Renteria called on Luis Avilan to face Victor Martinez, who singled to load the bases. Mahtook’s force-out scored Nicholas Castellanos, then Greiner slapped a single to left to score Niko Goodrum.
But with the tying run on second base and the winning run on first, Avilan earned his second save by getting Victor Reyes to pop out. Coming back soon: The Sox optioned Ryan LaMarre to Triple-A Charlotte, most likely to open a roster spot for Leury Garcia to return from his strained left hamstring for Friday’s opener of a three-game series against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Garcia has been running, shagging fly balls and taking batting practice and said he feels good enough that he won’t need a minor league rehab stint. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 6.
“I’m pretty close,” Garcia said. “I don’t think I need to go down there (to Charlotte) and take at bats. I’ll be OK.”