‘We really didn’t do anything well’

good at-bats.”

One week after getting swept by the A’s at home, the White Sox jumped on Oakland starter Jharel Cotton early and got strong pitching from Rodon and two relievers to make it hold up before a crowd of 40,019 – the largest to watch a baseball game at the Coliseum in nearly 12 years.

Rodon (1-1) allowed two runs over 6 ⁄ innings and came within one shy of his career high with 10 strikeouts in his second start after missing nearly the first three months of the season on the disabled list with bursitis in his left bicep. Rodon gave up a two-run double to Adam Rosales in the second the retired 14 of 16 on his way to winning for the first time since Sep. 30.

“A little bit of relief,” Rodon said. “I started off a

Following the brief stoppage, Ensign continued to lead the way but felt immense pressure from three-time series champion Becker, as Forsberg quickly moved into the third position after taking the green flag from the fifth row.

The battle up front got exciting as Ensign and Becker raced side by side and wheel-to-wheel, with Becker taking the top spot on the seventh circuit before the caution flag flew on lap eight.

With Becker leading the field back to green over Ensign and Forsberg, action would pick up behind the lead trio as Lucas Ashe and Chase Majdic would put together some swift moves to surge their way inside the top five from their eighth and 14th starting positions.

On a very racy Marysville Raceway, the race would take a dramatic turn on the 13th lap as Becker would catch a rut in turns three and four and bring the Menne Motorsports machine to a stop.

As he was able to re-fire and join the back of the pack, the lead would go back to Ensign as he would now have nine-time series champion Forsberg breathing down his neck.

Back under green Ensign and Forsberg would bring the capacity crowd to their feet as they jockeyed for the lead spot with Forsberg getting the better end of the deal on lap 15, as he became the new leader.

Able to gap Ensign, Forsberg would set a strong pace out front as he led over Ensign with Chase Majdic in the third spot, and Lucas Ashe running fourth.

While the leaders chased after one another, Sean Becker did what he could from the back of the pack as he carefully navigated his way back through traffic and into the top five.

Up front, however, it was all Forsberg. Ensign finished second, Majdic third, Ashe fourth from 14th, and Becker would rebound to round out the top five.

“We were not very good most of the night, but fortunately my guys stayed at it, and we were good when it counted,” Forsberg said. “I was able to get into third quickly and pace Geoff Ensign and Sean Becker. All of the sudden Sean hooked a rut in three and four, and we were able to make a couple of moves and get by Geoff Ensign and end up in victory lane.”

Kurt Nelson would finish in the sixth spot, Michael Ing would rebound from his involvement on the lap two caution to finish seventh while Mike Monahan, Korey Lovell, and Jimmy Steward would round out the top 10.

Becker kicked the night off on Saturday night by earning fast time honors with a lap of 12.243 seconds.

Heat wins would go to Ensign, Ing, and Tyler Seavey, as Ensign would also earn the win during the Dash.