White Sox 4, Mariners 2
CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon had another strong start and the Chicago White Sox's bullpen made sure he got a win for it Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Led by Rodon, who allowed just two runs in six-plus innings, the White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 to win the opener of a four-game weekend series.
Rodon (6-5) earned the win by striking out five, walking three and allowing three hits before yielding to the bullpen. Four White Sox relievers combined to throw three scoreless innings, capped by closer David Robertson closing it out in the ninth for his 27th save.
Adam Eaton, the White Sox's center fielder and lead-off hitter, had big game offensively. He went 3-for-3, reached base safely in all four plate appearances and scored three runs.
Designated hitter Avisail Garcia went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, right fielder Trayce Thompson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two doubles, and first baseman Jose Abreu finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Franklin Gutierrez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run to lead Seattle, while left-hander Roenis Elias (4-7) started and took the loss after giving up four runs in 6 2/3 innings.
The Mariners (59-69) didn't score until the seventh, when they broke through with two runs off Rodon. Robinson Cano walked to start the inning and Gutierrez followed it with a two-run homer off a full-count fastball by Rodon to cut Chicago's lead in half, 4-2.
That was the last pitch for Rodon, who'd cruised through the previous five innings. The White Sox got out of the inning still leading by two run, but not before pinch hitter Seth Smith hit a double off left-hander Zach Duke to put runners at second and third with no outs.
Duke got out of it unscathed by retiring the next three hitters in a row on a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. Seattle again put runners at second and third in the eighth, this time with one out, but couldn't come up with a clutch hit off right-hander Nate Jones.
Rodon got into trouble in the first after back-to-back walks loaded the bases, but he wiggled out of it by striking out first baseman Mark Trumbo for the third out. He quickly settled into a rhythm and retired 14 of the Mariners' next 15 hitters.
The White Sox gave their starter a 1-0 lead by scratching out a run in the first and scored twice more in the third on two doubles and a single for a 3-0 lead. Eaton scored his second run that inning, and each of the doubles -- hit by Abreu and Thompson -- plated runs.
Eaton and Abreu sparked another rally to make it 4-0 in the fifth. Eaton was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Abreu singled him to third, and Eaton scored on a sacrifice fly by Garcia.
NOTES: Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon gave 3B Kyle Seager a day off with LHP Carlos Rodon starting for the White Sox. McClendon said there is no physical issue with Seager, who is in a slump and went 0-for-4 against Rodon last week in Seattle. Brad Miller started at third. "(Rodon) has a lot to do with that, so it's a perfect day to give him off. He'll be back at third base (Friday)," McClendon said. ... Mariners LHP James Paxton (strained left middle finger) will make his second rehab start Friday at Triple-A Tacoma. ... Seattle traded RHP Fernando Rodney to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for cash considerations. ... The White Sox wore 1976-era throwback jerseys with blue V-neck collars. They did not wear the blue shorts that accompanied those uniforms for a brief time in 1976.