José Abreu hits 3-run homer as White Sox top Red Sox 4-3

CHICAGO (AP) — When Carlos Rodón needed more, he found it.

Pitching on extended rest in the middle of a pennant race, it was an encouraging sign for the left-hander — and the Chicago White Sox.

Rodón worked five effective innings and José Abreu hit a three-run homer, leading the White Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

Luis Robert added an RBI single as Chicago bounced back from a 2-4 road trip. The AL Central leaders also got steady innings from Craig Kimbrel and Liam Hendriks after the Red Sox rallied in the seventh.

“Everybody had each other's backs,” Kimbrel said.

Rodón (12-5) allowed one run and three hits in his first start since Sept. 1. He struck out seven and walked none.

The 28-year-old Rodón had his turn pushed back because of shoulder soreness. He also spent time on the IL last month with shoulder fatigue.

But he had his usual velocity when he needed it the most, going into the upper 90s to strike out José Iglesias and Kiké Hernández with a runner on third in the third.

“It's a check off the list that I can reach back, hit that velocity,” said Rodón, who threw 86 pitches, 62 for strikes. “Just also get the pitch count up as well.”

Boston lost for the fourth time in five games, but it maintained its one-game lead for the top AL wild card because of the New York Yankees' 10-3 loss to the Mets. It also remained nine games back of AL East-leading Tampa Bay, which lost 10-4 at Detroit.

All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts returned after being sidelined by COVID-19, but ace left-hander Chris Sale was placed on the injured list after he tested positive. The seven-time All-Star also had a mild bout with COVID-19 in January that required him to quarantine for two weeks.

“It’s unfortunate,...

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