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Levine: Carlos Rodon Continues Evolution As A Pitcher

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- While getting back in the playoff race remains a steep challenge, the White Sox were encouraged by winning three of four games against the Mariners.

After a 4-1 win against Seattle on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago still sits 7.5 games out of the second wild-card spot, with six clubs ahead of it. Anything short of a long September winning streak will leave the White Sox out of the playoffs.

"We control our own fate," designated hitter Justin Morneau said. "This is why with the schedule being this way, you can make up some games. We just need to go to Detroit and continue to play some good baseball."

Outstanding starting pitching continued to be the theme for the White Sox on Sunday. Left-hander Carlos Rodon won his fifth game of the season and ran his record to 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA over his last five starts by allowing just one run in six innings. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out six.

"Carlos has really evolved as a pitcher," manager Robin Ventura said. "As he goes along, he just seems to be getting better. There is more confidence there as well. He has been getting extended somewhat and staying in for a while. He is seeing these hitters the third time around, which is good for him."

The White Sox (63-66) have won six of their past eight games, and a faint hope for turning the corner in the last 33 games flickers ever so slightly for them. Chicago plays its next 21 games against divisional foes, beginning with a seven-day road trip that is comprised of three games at Detroit and four at Minnesota

"Yeah we can say that," Rodon said about his team's chances to get back into a playoff push. "One game at a time is the way the game has always been played. We just have to stay focused and lock in here at the end."

Winning 23 out of the final 33 games would give Chicago an outside shot at the wild card. That type of stellar baseball would match the White Sox's hot start to the season, when they went 23-10.

Reliever Dan Jennings has been looked at by several teams as a possible late-season addition. He threw one pitch Sunday to get Rodon out of a seventh-inning jam with a double play groundball.

"The biggest thing for us is to not take too hard of a look at the standings," Jennings said. "We can make a run and see what happens. What you can control is trying to win your games. We take care of out business and the other teams lose a couple, who knows, we may be right in the thick of it."

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

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