Rodon keeps rolling in White Sox' 4-2 win over Mariners

Back in April and May, even June and July, Carlos Rodon likely wouldn't have emerged from Thursday night's start in such good shape.

The Chicago White Sox' rookie would have run his pitch count up to the point of making an early exit, and his ERA would have taken a beating.

But as he nears the final month of his first major-league season, Rodon is showing very nice development.

"That's just the way it goes at any level of baseball," Rodon said after the Sox beat the Mariners 4-2 at U.S. Cellular Field. "You just need some time to get comfortable and get used to the surroundings and hitters and just the atmosphere and everything."

Rodon has sure looked comfortable over his last 4 starts while allowing only 5 earned runs in 28 innings (1.60 ERA) with 29 strikeouts

"I've just learned how to pitch a little more," Rodon said. "I'll just put it that way. I'm just having fun, just being a good teammate and just learning the little things."

In the first inning, Rodon gave up a one-out single to Austin Jackson and walked Robinson Cano and Ricky Gutierrez with two outs to load the bases.

How did the 22-year-old lefty respond? Rodon struck out Mark Trumbo to get out of the jam and got himself locked in from there.

"Every once in a while it takes a little while to get going, and I just made some good pitches," Rodon said. "That's a good team. That's a good hitting team. I just got out of that inning and started rolling."

Rodon rolled into the seventh inning leading 4-0, but he was gone after issuing a leadoff walk to Cano and 2-run homer to Gutierrez.

"Hand it over the bullpen, and they can do the job," Rodon said. "That's what they're there for. I have confidence in all of them."

White Sox relievers held the Mariners scoreless the rest of the way, and Rodon (6-5) wound up getting the win.

"It started out a little shaky, but he got out of it," manager Robin Ventura said. "Again, you're looking at a guy with some tremendous stuff to be able to get out it but those middle innings, he was great. There at the end, it doesn't make you feel any better when he loses command somewhat and gives up a homer. The bullpen's been one of our strong points and you end up going to it."

Adam Eaton sparked the offense by going 3-for-3 and scoring 3 runs. He was also irritated after being hit by a pitch from Seattle starter Roenis Elias leading off the fifth inning.

"He probably wants to wear these all the time," Ventura said of the 1976 throwback uniforms the Sox wore Thursday. "Getting on base, he was dirty, running around. I thought he looked great, too. This probably fits him more than anybody else of how it looks. Him getting on and just creating havoc like that is very important for us. We're always a better when he's out there running around the bases."