Rodon pounded by Yankees, Sox lose 9-0

As a rookie last year, White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon was inconsistent early and a force once he figured things out.

Rodon, and the Sox, are hoping for a repeat scenario this season.

In his final start of a forgettable first half, Rodon gave up 6 runs (5 earned) on 12 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings as the White Sox lost to the New York Yankees 9-0 Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Sox also lost catcher Alex Avila, who is heading to the disabled list for the second time with a strained right hamstring.

"It hasn't been what I wanted, that's for sure," Rodon (2-7, 4.50 ERA) said of his first half. "Frustrating, especially when you have a good team like this. You want to be able to win for them, you want to be a part of their winning. You got guys like (Chris) Sale and (Jose) Quintana shoving it up guys' butts and pitching well, it's tough to sit there and watch your start when you're doing what you're doing."

As has often been the case over a stretch of seven starts where he's gone 0-3 with a 4.54 ERA, Rodon was victimized by poor command early in the count.

The Yankees are no longer World Series contenders, but they are loaded with veteran hitters who are dangerous when they get ahead.

New York scored 2 runs on 3 hits in the second and third innings to put the game away early.

"It comes down to command," manager Robin Ventura said. "This is the wrong lineup to be erratic against and get behind. It just seemed like every hitter was 2-0, 2-1 and you just can't do it. They have too many good hitters and too many veteran hitters that take advantage of that."

Rodon was 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA over his last eight starts as a rookie, so the ability is certainly there for the No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2014 draft.

"I've got to move on from this one and just forget about it," Rodon said. "Come back after the all-star break and think of it as a new season. We've got to win ballgames. Today, I didn't give the team a chance to win and I didn't do my job."

Avila hurt his hamstring running to first base in the fourth inning. He was on the DL with the same injury from April 24-May 8.

With Avila going back on the DL, the Sox figure to bring up Omar Narvaez from Class AAA Charlotte or possibly Alfredo Gonzalez from AA Birmingham.

"I've been playing well over the last month or so," Avila said. "But injuries happen. As frustrating as it can be, you just have to take care of it."