White Sox 4, Tigers 1: Rodón Shines in Sox Sweep

What a series! The Chicago White Sox won their game today against the Detroit Tigers, 4-1, as they secured the series sweep at Comerica Park. Now at 41-24 and 5 ¹⁄₂ games ahead of Cleveland in the American League Central, the team is learning to prevail through injuries, and their pitching and depth has helped tremendously.

The Tigers were without a starting pitcher in today’s game, so they relied on their bullpen to get through this one. Kyle Funkhouser started off in the top of the first inning and pitched a scoreless frame. He allowed a one-out walk to Brian Goodwin, but that would be it.

Carlos Rodón came out throwing a strong ballgame, with a 1-2-3 first inning, striking out to Robbie Grossman to start the game. Funkhouser matched Los in the top of the second inning, throwing a 1-2-3 inning as well. Rodón allowed a two-out walk to Isaac Paredes in the bottom of the inning, but that was all.

Funkhouser got into some trouble in the top of third inning, allowing a leadoff single to Zack Collins. He was able to get two outs to Danny Mendick and Leury García, and was replaced by lefty Tyler Alexander. Funkhouser ended his day after 2 ²⁄₃ innings and just one hit. Alexander was able to strike out Goodwin to end the inning. Rodón had one strikeout and two fly outs in the bottom of the third inning.

Yoán Moncada started the fourth inning with a leadoff double, as José Abreu was able to smash a line drive single to right field to drive him in, making it 1-0.

Alexander was able to get three straight outs after that, leaving the damage to just one run. Rodón responded to that with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth inning, striking out the side. In the top of the fifth inning, Mendick smashed a one-out single to right, followed by García doubling him in, making it 2-0.

Leury Legend has had a great series as he adjusts to a higher-leverage role while Nick Madrigal is out. Andrew Vaughn pinch-hit for Goodwin, popping out, while Moncada struck out to end the inning.

Rodón had two strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth inning as he blew through the Tigers order once again. Things were starting to get a little interesting for Rodón, as he was now hitless through five innings.

Alexander was replaced by Buck Farmer to start the sixth inning. Although he got the loss, he pitched 2 ¹⁄₃ innings with four hits and three strikeouts. Farmer allowed a leadoff single to Abreu, followed by a one-out single to Adam Eaton. After Adam Engel was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded with one out for Collins. Collins stuck out, bringing Mendick up to the plate. Mendick took one for the team, after he was hit by a pitch in the elbow, driving in Abreu to make it 3-0.

Immediately following, García took a walk to drive in Eaton, making it 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rodón allowed a two-out walk to Grossman, but was able to successfully get out Daz Cameron to end the inning. Could he be on his way to another ... no hitter?

Joe Jiménez replaced Farmer to start the seventh inning, as Farmer went one inning with two hits and two earned runs. Jiménez had a scoreless inning, but Abreu did have a one-out double. MVPito had three hits today, providing a very solid day at the plate.

The bottom of the seventh inning started off great for Rodón, as he struck out Miguel Cabrera, bringing Eric Haase up to the plate. On what should have been strike three, Haase got a break with a missed call on a Rodón slider by home plate ump Pat Hoberg. With a 3-2 count, Haase smashed a double to left field, ending the no-hit bid for Rodón in a heartbreaking way.

After the game, Rodón stated that he talked with Hoberg, who admitted to missing the call, and there were no hard feelings between the two. Who knows what would have happened if the call went the right way, but Rodón now had to focus on the rest of the game and coming out victorious. After a wild pitch, Haase advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Niko Goodrum to make it 4-1.

Rodón ended his day after the seventh inning, pitching another stellar performance. His final stat line was seven innings, one run, one hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts. His ERA now sits at 1.89, with a 6-2 record and 0.84 WHIP.

Evan Marshall came in to pitch the eighth inning, striking out two and pitching a 1-2-3 inning. Liam Hendriks came in to seal the save in the ninth inning, as he got a strikeout and two fly outs to end the game.

Overall, this was a great series for all of the White Sox pitchers involved, and really illustrated the depth that the White Sox have offensively. The series sweep is huge as the White Sox play a very talented Tampa Bay Rays team coming up, followed by four games against the Houston Astros.

The South Siders will try and extend their winning streak back at home tomorrow against the Rays, as Tyler Glasnow and Lance Lynn face off in a pitchers’ duel. As the two teams with the best record in the MLB face off, make sure to tune into the action at 7:10 p.m. CT. Joe Resis takes the double dip of game recap and Six Pack!