White Sox 3, Angels 0
CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon escaped a first-inning jam and dominated the Los Angeles Angels the rest of his time on the mound Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 3-0 victory.
The White Sox beat the Angels for the second straight night and Rodon, 22, showed why they took him third overall in the 2014 draft. The hard-throwing rookie left-hander didn't allow a run through a career-best seven innings and set a career high with 11 strikeouts -- including twice striking out Angels stars Mike Trout (0-for-4) and Albert Pujols (0-for-4).
The first time he whiffed Los Angeles' dynamic duo -- back-to-back in the first -- turned out to be a key to his night. After allowing a walk and single to start the game, Rodon got Trout looking and Pujols swinging before escaping unharmed on a fly to left by shortstop Erick Aybar.
Pitching with some added confidence, Rodon allowed three more hits and struck out nine over the next six innings. It was the second double-digit strikeout game of the season and his brief career, which made Rodon the third White Sox rookie to accomplish that feat.
The last White Sox rookie to do it was Jason Bere in 1993. The 11 strikeouts for Rodon are the second-highest in a game for a White Sox rookie, with Bere's 12 against the Angels in 1993 the most.
Melky Cabrera, filling the designated hitter role for Chicago, led the way offensively by going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Left fielder Trayce Thompson, another Chicago rookie, added his first career homer in the fifth off Angels starter Hector Santiago.
Chicago's bullpen nearly spoiled Rodon's big night in the eighth, but right-hander Jake Petricka got out of the bases-loaded situation. Pujols hit into an inning-ending double play that was started by Petricka fielding a ball in front of the plate and throwing home to catcher Tyler Flowers for the second out. Flowers then threw to first for the final out.
Right-handed closer David Robertson closed it out in the ninth for his 23rd save.
The White Sox finally broke through for two runs against Santiago in the fourth to give Rodon a 2-0 lead.
Tyler Saladino got the rally started with a one-out single for Chicago's first hit before first baseman Jose Abreu was hit by pitch. Cabrera drove in Saladino and Abreu with a double to the gap in left center.
Thompson made it 3-0 in the fifth by smacking his first career homer with two outs, returning to a designed silent treatment from the White Sox in the dugout afterward. After a few unreturned high-fives, Thompson was mobbed in a mass of celebratory hugs and pats on the back.
Rodon, another rookie, took it from there. He retired the Angels in order in the sixth, including his second strikeout of Pujols to end it -- his 10th strikeout of the night to match his career high.
NOTES: White Sox OF J.B. Shuck (left hamstring strain) and UTL Emilio Bonifacio (left oblique strain) are each close to starting rehab assignments in the minor leagues. "Once they go out and start playing, we're going to get a better idea of what they can do," manager Robin Ventura said Tuesday. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia said LHP C.J. Wilson had a scheduled meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Tuesday for a second evaluation of his injured left elbow. Scioscia said he didn't know what the recommendation was following the meeting. An earlier MRI showed Wilson has bone spurs in his elbow. ... Scioscia said the Angels are monitoring the innings of LHP Andrew Heaney, who started the season at Triple-A Salt Lake. Heaney has thrown 129 2/3 innings between Triple-A and the Angels. He threw 166 2/3 innings between the minor and major leagues last season for the Miami Marlins. ... Joe Torre and Jim Leyland, representing Major League Baseball, visited with the Angels on Tuesday to deliver an update on various topics, including baseball's use of instant replay.