Rodon tosses gem, White Sox blank Cardinals

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CHICAGO (AP) _ Carlos Rodon pitched three-hit, shutout ball into the eighth
inning to outduel Luke Weaver and lead the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory
over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Tim Anderson tripled and had two RBIs. Charlie Tilson singled in a run off
reliever Mike Mayers in Chicago’s two-run seventh and Jose Abreu added an RBI
groundout as White Sox ended a six-game losing streak and won for just the third
time in their last 13.

Rodon (2-3) allowed only two singles and a double while walking two and
striking out a season-high seven though 7 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old
left-hander, who spent the first two months of 2018 on the disabled list
rehabbing from shoulder surgery, sparkled in just his seventh start this season.

Joakim Soria got the final four outs for his 13th save in 16 chances.

Weaver (5-8) allowed one run on three hits and fanned seven his second straight
impressive start. The right-hander pitched two-hit ball over a career-high eight
innings last week in San Francisco.

Jose Martinez grounded a sharp single off Rodon with two outs in the first.
Then the White Sox lefty didn’t allow another hit _ and retired 14 of 15 batters
_ before Matt Carpenter doubled with one out in the sixth.

Rodon was coming off his strongest outing this season, when he allowed two runs
on five hits in a six-inning no-decision at Houston last week.

The White Sox managed only three baserunners _ with Yolmer Sanchez singling
twice _ before the fifth, when Chicago took a 1-0 lead.

Leury Garcia walked to lead off, advanced to third on Omar Narvaez’s single and
came home when Anderson grounded into a force at second.

The White Sox scored twice with two outs in the seventh to make it 3-0. Narvaez
singled, then scored on Anderson’s triple to the left field corner. Tilson’s
single plated Anderson.

The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out in the eighth to chase Rodon. Paul
DeJong led off with a single, Kolten Wong reached on an error and Carpenter
walked.

But Juan Minaya fanned Tommy Pham for the second out, then Soria struck out
Martinez to end the threat.

The White Sox added a run in the eighth when Yoan Moncada came home on Abreu’s
groundout.

     ALL-STAR NIX

Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas was removed from the National League’s
active roster for the All-Star Game next Tuesday because he’s scheduled to start
Sunday against Cincinnati. Los Angeles Dodgers righty Ross Stripling was added
to the NL pitching staff Wednesday as Mikolas’ replacement.

Mikolas is 10-3 with a 2.65 ERA and was selected to his first All-Star team
last weekend. The 29-year-old is enjoying a resurgent season in the majors after
three years in Japan.

     TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: CF Tommy Pham (bruised left ankle) was back in the lineup after
being a last-minute scratch on Tuesday and struck out four times. Pham fouled a
ball off his foot on Sunday. . Manager Mike Matheny said LHP Tyler Lyons
(sprained left elbow) is close to returning from his rehab assignment. . RHP
Luke Gregerson (right shoulder impingement) could be activated this weekend, but
Matheny didn’t have a date.

White Sox: RHP Nate Jones (right forearm muscle strain) tossed live batting
practice on Wednesday. Jones said he felt good and threw at “90-100 percent,”
but the next steps in the right-hander’s recovery haven’t been determined . RHP
Miguel Gonzales underwent right shoulder surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
His recovery time is expected to be nine to 12 months.

     UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (6-4, 3.05) looks for his fourth straight win
when he takes the mound against Cincinnati’s Matt Harvey (4-5, 4.80) on Friday
in the opener of a three-game home series.

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