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Rodon continues second half surge as White Sox sink Mariners

If Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon ever figures out how to put a full season together, watch out.

Still very young at 23, Rodon continues to learn his craft at the major-league level.

As the left-hander has shown, it takes him awhile to find a groove. But once he gets locked in, he's a special talent.

"Carlos is really evolving," manager Robin Ventura said. "As he goes along he just seems to be getting better, there's more confidence there. He's learning a lot about himself as well."

Here is what we've learned about Rodon.

In his first two seasons with the White Sox, he has been shaky in the first half and rock solid after the all-star break.

This year Rodon had a 4.50 ERA in the first half. After allowing 1 run in 6 innings in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, his ERA in the second half is a minuscule 1.47.

With a plus fastball and slider, Rodon has gotten by pretty well. But he gradually has mixed in a nice changeup during the second-half surge, and the pitch has been a big factor.

"(Catcher) Omar (Narvaez) was calling them, and they just felt good down in the bullpen before the game," Rodon said. "It worked out when I went into the game. I think it just helped the fastball; it helped everything else out and made everything else better."

For as good as he was Sunday, and for good as he has been since the all-star break, Rodon won't be satisfied until he goes deeper into his starts.

Against Seattle, Rodon came back out for the seventh inning with a 2-1 lead but was pulled after Kyle Seager led off with a single and Franklin Gutierrez followed with another single.

Rarely one to show much emotion, Rodon clearly was upset after giving the ball to Ventura, and he slammed his glove on the bench after reaching the dugout.

Rodon, who threw 100 pitches, was mad at himself, not his manager.

"You're up 2-1, you want a quick inning, you want another hold in that seventh," Rodon said. " I didn't really want to dip into the pen that early. I've been trying to stay in the game longer. Just a little frustrated.

"I want to be competitive, I still want to be out there. But hats off to my teammates once again for digging me out."

Chris Beck came on in relief of Rodon and threw one pitch, which Mike Zunino bunted into a forceout. Dan Jennings relieved Beck and also threw one pitch, a double-play ball that ended the seventh.

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, right, throws out Seattle Mariners' Adam Lind at first base after forcing out Mike Zunino, left, at second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Associated Press
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