Rodon hangs in there, Sox explode late in 6-1 win
Going only 5 innings is generally a disappointing outing for a major-league starting pitcher.
On Tuesday night, Carlos Rodon was the exception.
"He's the star of the game and everybody knew it," manager Tony La Russa said. "Just an amazing 5 innings and this wouldn't have happened without him."
Or Andrew Vaughn.
While Rodon was holding up his end on the mound in an abbreviated appearance, Vaughn finally solved Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray with one out in the seventh inning and the White Sox poured it on late in a 6-1 win at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"It's the kind of game that teams that contend win," La Russa said. "Just the commitment to play 9 innings, you see what happens."
Rodon didn't qualify for a quality start, but he was satisfied after allowing 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks to go with 8 strikeouts over 5 innings.
Showing the "guts" so often referenced by La Russa, the Sox's left-hander worked out of big trouble in every inning but the fourth and was unloading 100-mph fastballs in his final frame.
"That was a good hitting team, I thought," Rodon said. "I had some good stuff today, good life on the fastball, and they hit some good fastballs and they had some deep counts, fouled off a lot of pitches.
"I've had games like that when I'm out in the second inning with 9 runs and I'm hitting the showers. Pitching in games like that before, I think I've learned a few things on how to get out of those jams."
Unfortunately for the Sox, Ray was a touch better than Rodon, and more efficient.
Coming into the game leading the American League in home runs allowed (14), Ray rode a nasty slider through 6.1 scoreless innings and had 13 strikeouts before Vaughn hit an opposite-field homer to right with one out in the seventh.
In the eighth, Vaughn came up with the bases loaded and no outs and just missed hitting a grand slam off Jays reliever Rafael Dolis.
The rookie left fielder settled for a sacrifice fly to snap the 1-1 tie and the White Sox broke the game open with 4 more runs.
"It was special," Vaughn said. "Anything I can do to help this team win or do anything possible to get us ahead or get us tied, it's an amazing feeling."
Tuesday's game started a tough stretch of schedule for the Sox. After Toronto, they also have seven games with Houston and Tampa Bay coming up following a weekend series at Detroit.
"If you like competition, you're going to like what goes on the next two weeks," La Russa said.
sgregor@dailyherald.com