MIAMI — It took a career-high 122 pitches, but Carlos Rodon was able to end his winless drought.
Rodon pitched six innings to record his first victory since May as the Chicago White Sox beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 on Friday night.
Rodon (3-8) had been winless in his previous nine starts following a win against Kansas City on May 22.
"I tried not to think about it," he said. "Sometimes it’s out of your control but it’s nice to have one tonight."
Rodon, who spent his early childhood in Miami, allowed one run and three hits while striking out four and walking three.
"I knew he was going to get an extra day," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "We kind of let him go a little bit. I wouldn’t say it was one of the sharpest. He laboured through a little bit but guys swung the bat early and at least got him to a point we get it to the bullpen and those guys did a nice job."
Adam Eaton tied a career-high with four hits for the White Sox, who had four players drive in a run in their first game in Miami since 2004.
"It’s kind of nice to come to the ball park and not have ‘BP’ and just play baseball," Eaton said.
David Robertson pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 34 chances.
Andrew Cashner (4-9) allowed four runs, nine hits and five walks over five innings for the Marlins, who have lost three of four.
Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu had RBI singles in the first inning and Tyler Saladino had one in the second for a 3-0 lead as the White Sox loaded the bases in both innings.
"We’re lucky those first couple of innings that Andrew was able to get some big outs to kind of limit it, but it could have very easily have been very bad," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
J.T. Realmuto’s hit cut the Marlins’ deficit to 3-1.
Tim Anderson’s sacrifice fly pushed the Chicago lead to 4-1 in the fifth.
"I think in the fifth I’ve really got to come out after we score a run and shut them down," Cashner said.
The Marlins got a run back in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Dee Gordon to pull within 4-2.
Abreu went 2 for 5 with an RBI and is hitting .417 (15 for 36) with three home runs and six RBIs over his last eight games.
The Marlins had four hits and have scored four runs in their last three games.
"Offensively we’ve just got to be collectively better," Mattingly said. "… We don’t see that collective battle. Too many easy outs."
SUZUKI CLOSING IN ON KALINE
Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki doubled in the seventh giving him 3,003 hits — four shy of tying Al Kaline for 28th on the all-time list.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (groin) was placed on the 15-day DL before the game.
Marlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) has suffered a setback in the rehab process and might not join the big league club until September after the team looked to have him back last week. "I don’t know what’s happened, but it’s not going anywhere," Mattingly said. "It’s not getting better and it seems one thing has led to another and has not been able to progress. I feel like we’ve gone backwards." … RHP Bryan Morris (back) is looking to begin a rehab stint by the end of the month.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP James Shields (5-14, 5.43 ERA) starts the second game of the series on Saturday night. Shields has allowed 14 runs and 15 hits in 6 1-3 innings over his last two starts, losing both games.
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (8-6, 3.70) takes the mound Saturday looking to continue his recent success at home where he is 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA over his past four starts.
