Yankees edge White Sox in battle of heavyweights

On the schedule, it was just another game being played in late May.

Carlos Rodon, among others, knew it was more than that.

"Two very good teams in the AL, two playoff contenders," the White Sox's rejuvenated starting pitcher said. "And you got the feel of it tonight with the game that was played in that atmosphere. Yankee Stadium's a special place and probably always will be."

Rodon had yet another impressive outing, striking out a career-high 13 over 6 scoreless innings, but it wasn't enough as New York edged the Sox 2-1 Friday night.

For as good as Rodon was, again, Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery was also on his game. The left-hander pitched 7 scoreless innings and struck out 11.

"That guy over there pitched a (heck) of a game as well," Rodon said. "Both these lineups are pretty tough to pitch against. Especially a left-handed pitcher against our lineup, you've seen the track record."

The White Sox came into the game with a 9-2 record vs. lefty starters.

Gleyber Torres broke the scoreless tie with a home run off Sox reliever Michael Kopech in the seventh inning before Nick Madrigal evened the score with an RBI single in the eighth.

The Sox had two on and no outs in the ninth against N.Y. closer Aroldis Chapman but Andrew Vaughn's hard grounder to third base was turned into a triple play.

In the bottom of the ninth, Torres' run-scoring single off Evan Marshall decided the outcome.

"Think about it, this was a heck of a game," Rodon said. "That team over there is very good, as are we. A triple play like that, you don't see that very often, especially in that situation, a 1-1 game in the ninth. I was sitting in the dugout, you definitely don't want that to happen, thinking we're going to put up a run there. You've just got to clear that one and go on to tomorrow."