NEW YORK (AP) - The Chicago White Sox are more concerned with building confidence for next season than this year’s results. Playing fundamentally sound, winning baseball against the major league’s second-best team is a good place to start.
Carlos Rodon pitched two-hit ball over seven innings, Yoan Moncada doubled in two and surging Chicago beat the New York Yankees 6-2 on Monday night for its fourth straight win.
Rodon (6-3) allowed a two-run shot to Gleyber Torres but was strong otherwise, and Chicago’s bullpen closed out a three-hitter. The White Sox have won 10 of 13 and clinched their first winning month of the season by improving to 15-10 in August.
“I think that they trust what they’re doing out there right now,” manager Rick Renteria said. “They’re having a lot of confidence playing the game. I think they’re trusting their instincts.”
Rodon is 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA in his past nine starts. The 25-year-old left-hander hasn’t lost since June 30.
“This month has been refreshing for us, the way we’ve been playing,” Rodon said. “It’s something to look forward to and just try to carry it out the rest of the season, and transition that into spring training and into next season as well.”
New York (83-48) missed an opportunity to gain ground on the idle Red Sox, falling 6 1/2 games back of the AL East leaders. Coming off a four-game sweep in Baltimore, the Yankees had won eight of nine and shaved 4 1/2 games off Boston’s lead in a span of eight days prior to Monday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone thought his club was a little sluggish after playing a late game Sunday night.
“I think just coming off a road trip where you got day-night doubleheaders and you’re getting in in the middle of the night,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Unfortunately, that rears its head a little bit, but you got to be able to fight through that.”
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka (9-5) dodged trouble early, including a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth. He escaped that by striking out two before Moncada’s groundout.
Chicago broke through in the sixth on a mix of luck and timely hitting. With one out, Daniel Palka tapped a broken-bat dribbler up the third base line for a single. After a walk to Matt Davidson, Omar Narvaez made contact on a check swing that rolled less than halfway toward third for another infield hit.
Moncada then grounded a two-run double into right-center field to tie it at 2. Nicky Delmonico followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Narvaez for a 3-2 advantage.
“I think I was able to control myself better in the fourth inning and it was the same type of situation in the sixth,” Tanaka said through a translator. “In my mind, I’m obviously trying to get through that inning. I think just overthrowing from being a little too amped up.”
Tanaka allowed four runs and matched a career high with ten hits over seven innings.
Tim Anderson brought home Adam Engel in the ninth on an error by first baseman Luke Voit and later scored on a wild pitch.
Torres broke a scoreless tie in the fourth by crushing an 0-1 changeup an estimated 444 feet over the center field wall into Monument Park, scoring Miguel Andujar with his 20th home run.
Andujar and Torres are the first pair of rookies in Yankees history to reach that mark. Per Elias, they are just the eighth set of rookie teammates to both slug 20 homers, and the first since Cincinnati’s Joey Votto and Jay Bruce in 2008.
GO GODZILLA
Former Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui was honored before the game, presented with sterling silver cuff links in honor of his induction as the youngest member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Looking sharp in a blue suit sans tie, the 2009 World Series MVP flashed a big smile and waved while receiving a warm ovation from the crowd.
SPEED IN SCRANTON
The Yankees signed outfielder Quintin Berry and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 33-year-old has stolen 29 bases in 132 big league games, most notably serving as a pinch-running specialist for world champion Boston in the 2013 postseason.
HALLOWED GROUND
Anderson made a dazzling play deep in the hole at shortstop in the second inning, firing across the diamond to retire Kyle Higashioka with a move reminiscent of former Yankees captain and current Miami Marlins owner Derek Jeter.
“Just being able to share that spot that he played,” Anderson said. “It’s an awesome feeling to take shortstop at Yankee Stadium.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: C Gary Sanchez (strained right groin) homered on the first pitch he saw to kick off a rehab assignment with Triple-A. He was 2 for 4 and caught for seven innings. … RF Aaron Judge (fractured right wrist) participated in baserunning and fielding drills Monday but has yet to swing a bat or throw a ball at full intensity. … SS Didi Gregorius (left heel contusion) hit off a tee and was expected to see a doctor Monday … LHP Aroldis Chapman (left knee tendinitis) is showing “a little bit of improvement” after receiving a platelet injection Friday, according to manager Aaron Boone.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP James Shields (5-15, 4.59 ERA) has not won on the road since opening day at Kansas City, sporting a 6.13 ERA away from home during that span. The 13-year veteran is tied with Baltimore’s Alex Cobb for most losses in the majors.
Yankees: RHP Lance Lynn (8-9, 4.84 ERA) lost for the first time in five appearances since being acquired from Minnesota, allowing five runs over 5 1/3 innings in Miami last week.
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