Santiago K's 10 as Angels blank White Sox

CHICAGO -- The Angels knocked out White Sox starter Carlos Rodon after one-third of an inning, and Hector Santiago held the South Siders' struggling offense under control in a 7-0 victory Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field. It was the third straight loss for the White Sox, who opened a seven-game homestand, and ended a three-game losing streak for the Angels.
"Carlos didn't have it tonight," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "They did a good job putting it in play. He just seemed to be all over the place and he couldn't get through."
Rodon quickly had a streak of 10 straight quality starts halted when the Angels erupted for five runs on six hits. It was the shortest injury-free start for a White Sox hurler since Aug. 28, 2003, when Neal Cotts lasted one-third of an inning at Yankee Stadium. Gavin Floyd threw seven pitches Sept. 20, 2010, vs. Oakland before leaving due to an injury.
After Rodon struck out Craig Gentry for his only out, the Angels put seven straight men on base via two walks and five hits. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, then Kole Calhoun, Andrelton Simmons, Geovany Soto, C.J. Cron and Johnny Giavotella put together five consecutive singles.

Ventura pulled Rodon at 41 pitches, 22 for strikes, as his ERA rose from 1.38 to 4.73.
"I had it happen before," said Rodon of the rough outing. "But it would have been nice to go three or four for the guys instead of a third of an inning and get one out. Just didn't happen today."
Santiago, a one-time White Sox starter and closer, matched a career high with 10 strikeouts. He gave up two hits and pitched out of minor jams in the first and the sixth, with two men on base in each frame.
It was the Angels' most impressive win, one that saw them notch a season high in runs and hits (13), and shut out an opponent for the first time since Sept. 6, 2015, against the Rangers.

"Some guys have gotten off to some slow starts," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "But tonight, they had really good nights. We're a better offensive team than we showed the first couple weeks of this season."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The awakening: The Angels tied for their highest-scoring game of the season before even recording their second out. Eight of their first nine hitters reached base against Rodon, six on singles and two on walks, to give them an early five-run lead. The six hits was two more than what the Angels got in a 12-inning game in Minnesota on Sunday. It was their first time scoring five runs in the first inning since Aug. 3, 2014.

"We know we have a good offense," said Cron, who was dropped to the No. 8 spot but finished with three hits and two RBIs. "Just to get a lead like that early was good for us." More >
Putnam, Petricka and Jennings eat innings: The White Sox were left in an early hole by Rodon. But Jake Petricka allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings, Zach Putnam threw a career-high three perfect innings and Dan Jennings worked two before giving way to Zach Duke in the ninth. The White Sox, who did not break camp with a long reliever, optioned veteran outfielder J.B. Shuck to Triple-A Charlotte after the game and will call up a pitcher before Tuesday's contest.
"You need the bullpen to be able to pick up those innings and those guys came in and did a great job," Ventura said. "We're going to need a little help, innings-wise, you know, length."
"When those situations happen, because they do, it's a long season, we'll be ready and do our best," Petricka said. More >
Blowing smoke: Backed by an early lead, Santiago mowed through the White Sox order, allowing only five baserunners. The 28-year-old left-hander averaged 91.5 mph on his fastball in 2014 and 90.9 mph in '15. On Monday, 10 of his fastballs were clocked at 95 mph and above.
"I saw swings, I saw approaches, and I kind of had the mindset that they were looking for something else," Santiago said of relying heavily on his four-seam fastball, throwing it 80 times. "They kept swinging and missing, and I was like, 'Let's try it again.' If they were late on it, try it again." More >
Flashing the leather:Todd Frazier's hitting struggles continued, although he did draw a sixth-inning walk. But Frazier posted web gems in the fourth, fifth and sixth, taking away hits from Trout, Soto and Yunel Escobar, respectively.

Escobar made his own highlight-reel play, diving near the third-base line in the fifth to field a sharp grounder from Austin Jackson and throw the speedy center fielder out at first base.

QUOTABLE
"[The Angels] definitely seemed like they got the better of the trade when [the White Sox] got me. He pitched really, really well. I think I said that at least a half-dozen times on the bench that we got screwed on that end." -- Adam Eaton, who was part of a three-team trade sending him to the White Sox that also sent Santiago to the Angels, adding a little postgame humor
"They're going to have to figure this one out. It was up and down the lineup." -- Ventura, on his offense that has scored six runs over the past 11 games

CATCHING SOME BREAKS
Dioner Navarro is hitless over his past 14 at-bats and is 1-for-22 overall. The White Sox catching tandem with Alex Avila is 4-for-44 with one RBI.
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels:Matt Shoemaker takes the mound, looking to build on a solid start against the A's, in the second of a four-game series at 5:10 p.m. PT on Tuesday. Coming off giving up six runs and recording only nine outs, Shoemaker bounced back brilliantly Wednesday, twirling six innings of one-hit ball in Oakland.
White Sox:Mat Latos has not only been better than expected during his first two starts for the South Siders, but downright close to unhittable. Latos stands as just the sixth pitcher since 1913 to win each of his first two starts for the White Sox with an ERA under 1.00. He'll oppose Shoemaker on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. CT.
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