Rodon struggles as White Sox lose 9-0 to Yankees

CHICAGO (AP) - Carlos Rodon flipped his glove into the stands as he walked off the field.

"Yeah. Give it to a fan is better than throwing it away," he said.

It was that kind of Tuesday night for Rodon, who struggled again as the Chicago White Sox lost 9-0 to the New York Yankees. The left-hander matched season highs by allowing six runs and 12 hits in five innings while dropping to 0-3 with a 4.93 ERA in his last six starts.

"It comes down to command," manager Robin Ventura said. "This is the wrong lineup to be erratic and get behind. It just seemed like every hitter was 2-0, 2-1 and you just can't do it."

Brett Gardner had four of New York's season-high 20 hits, and Chase Headley hit a two-run homer for the second straight day. Austin Romine also connected, and Masahiro Tanaka (6-2) pitched into the eighth inning while improving to 4-1 with a 1.14 ERA in eight road starts.

"Everyone really getting a chance to swing the bat well today and everyone contributing, that's always nice," New York manager Joe Girardi said.

Carlos Beltran, who had three hits, and relievers Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances were picked for the All-Star Game from the Yankees, and White Sox ace Chris Sale joined the trio on the AL roster announced before New York's win.

"I'm fortunate, man," the 39-year-old Beltran said. "Every single one is special, and this one will be special also."

Chicago (43-41) had won three in a row and six of eight, but it was completely shut down by Tanaka. The Japanese right-hander allowed six hits and walked one in 7 2/3 innings.

"Once they got the lead he just seemed to get into a nice little groove of throwing a few more fastballs but slowing it down," Ventura said. "He had some that were in the 70s. He's just able to keep you off balance."

Beltran singled in the first but was stranded at third when Headley struck out with the bases loaded. Beltran hit an RBI single in New York's two-run second, then doubled and scored in the fourth for a 5-0 lead.

Rodon (2-7) struck out three and walked two. He threw 59 of his 92 pitches for strikes.

"With regards to everything, gotta move on from this one and just forget about it," he said. "Come back after the All-Star break and think of it as a new season."

HELLO A-ROD

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez served as the designated hitter in his first start since Thursday - before a weekend series at San Diego. He went 1 for 6 with a first-inning double.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: OF Jacoby Ellsbury was held out of the lineup. Girardi said Ellsbury was a little sore and got an ice pack for his leg after Monday's 8-2 loss, but it was a scheduled day off with a left-hander on the mound.

White Sox: C Alex Avila has left with a right hamstring strain and is headed for the disabled list. "Get a MRI in the morning and see the severity," he said. ... 1B Justin Morneau, coming back from left elbow surgery, went 0 for 2 and was hit by a pitch in his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Charlotte. "The timing is the most important thing," he said in a phone interview before the game. "You know, see pitches. The results at this point I'm not too worried about that."

UP NEXT

RHPs Michael Pineda of the Yankees and Miguel Gonzalez of the White Sox face off in the series finale on Wednesday night. Pineda (3-7, 5.24 ERA) went 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six June starts. Gonzalez (1-4, 4.88 ERA) pitched seven solid innings at Houston on Friday, but dropped to 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA in his last four outings.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap