(SportsNetwork.com) - Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Carlos Rodon would not be guaranteed a spot in the rotation no matter how well he performed in his first major league start.
Rodon prevailed in last weekend's victory over the Cincinnati Reds and Ventura will roll him out again Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.
The rookie left-hander held the Reds to a pair of runs and four hits across six innings of an 8-2 win on Saturday. Rodon, who made three relief appearances before taking center stage, struck out eight and walked four.
"I felt real comfortable," Rodon said. "Just the same old thing, different ballgame."
Chicago has won two straight, four of five and six of its last nine games, and won the last two installments of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The White Sox won the series with Wednesday's second straight 4-2 victory, their first series win on the road.
Jose Quintana was sharp in the start and struck out 10 batters in seven innings, allowing just one run and four hits.
"I feel good. I feel a lot of confidence," Quintana said.
Jake Petricka threw a scoreless eighth inning and David Robertson gave up a home run in the ninth before nailing down his seventh save.
Avisail Garcia and Adam LaRoche both homered during a three-run first inning, while Emilio Bonifacio and Melky Cabrera had an RBI apiece for the White Sox, who have clubbed 10 homers in the last eight games. Garcia has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games since April 22.
White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu did not play and is riding a nine-game hitting streak. Abreu has six homers and 20 RBI with a .288 batting average.
The Athletics ended a six-game slide with a 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox, but fell back into the loss column with Wednesday's 2-0 verdict in the finale of a three-game set.
Sonny Gray was dealt the tough-luck loss and gave up only a run and three hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
Marcus Semien tripled and Josh Phegley doubled in the five-hit attack for the Athletics.
"It was horrible offense," A's outfielder Josh Reddick said. "We've got to do a better job, bottom line."
Oakland produced only two runs in Jesse Hahn's last start and he gets the nod Friday night. Hahn lasted 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 setback at Seattle and was reached for six runs -- four earned -- and eight hits. He struck out four and walked a season-high three batters.
Hahn, who's in his first season with the A's, has dropped back-to-back trips to the mound and is 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA in six starts this season. He has never faced the White Sox and is 0-1 in three home appearances.
Chicago went 4-3 against Oakland last season and will host the Athletics for four games in September. The White Sox, though, are 1-7 in the past eight visits to O.co Coliseum.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.