Levine: Carlos Rodon Keeps Up Impressive Work

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The biggest Jose Abreu fan in Chicago on Tuesday evening was certainly rookie White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon, who watched as Abreu hit a laser-beam home run to right-center field, giving him a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning that helped get Rodon a win in Chicago's 4-2 win against Houston at U.S. Cellular Field.

Rodon was finished for the day regardless of what followed after a season-high 116 pitches. He threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five Astros. Rodon's most impressive work came in the fifth and sixth innings. He managed to throw just 26 pitches combined in the last two innings of his outing after firing 90 in the first four.

Manager Robin Ventura showed real patience with the 22-year-old Rodon, who is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA this season.

"It was nice to see him battle with the group and gut his way through it," Ventura said. "He wanted to go back out (after 90 pitches), but to get through it like that with a lot of traffic out there is pretty impressive."

The maturation of Rodon, Chicago's first-round pick in the 2014 amateur draft, has been big for the struggling club. Rodon has grown by leaps and bounds with his command and mound presence over his past two appearances, over which he's given up just one run in his last two starts, striking out 15 while issuing five walks.

With Rodon throwing those 116 pitches, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the White Sox skip his next start or push it back a few days. Rodon was skipped for nine days from May 20-29 to protect his arm, which has been a theme in his first year in the big leagues.

The White Sox said Rodon will be skipped from time to time in order not to push his season innings limit up much beyond the 150 area. The method worked exceedingly well the last time he was skipped.

"During that time, I got some stuff done on sides," Rodon said, referring to bullpen sessions. "I was more comfortable throwing the change-up and fastball and slider for strikes."

With three other lefties in the White Sox rotation, Rodon has plenty of mentors who are on the hill pitching when he isn't.

"This is a great rotation," Rodon said.

"It's really great to be a part of it."

Ventura believes all of the team's starters get some extra juice watching ace Chris Sale dominate hitters like he has. Sale has had four consecutive starts with 10 or more strikeouts.

"Pitching right behind him, it's a pretty good opportunity (for Rodon)," Ventura said. "You do what you do and get on your own way after watching Chris."

Rodon extended his scoreless innings streak to 11 over the past two games.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.