Carlos Rodón throws 20th no-hitter in White Sox history after losing perfect game in 9th inning of 8-0 win over Cleveland

CHICAGO — Carlos Rodón was originally slated to start for the Chicago White Sox on Monday but was scratched because of an upset stomach.

He returned Wednesday and flirted with perfection before making history.

Rodón threw the 20th no-hitter in Sox history, striking out seven in an 8-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field.

He was perfect through 8⅓ innings before hitting Roberto Pérez with a pitch. He then got the last two outs for the second Sox no-hitter in eight months. Lucas Giolito no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 25.

“It’s a pretty special moment,” Rodón said. “It feels good to say I did it.”

The ninth inning began with a close play at first base. Josh Naylor hit a grounder to first, and José Abreu barely beat him to the bag as Naylor dived head first. The out call was upheld upon review.

Rodón then hit Pérez with a 1-2 slider for the only Indians baserunner.

After striking out Yu Chang for the second out, Rodón got Jordan Luplow to ground out to third.

“He was very determined,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Proved to me he’s a finisher.”

Rodón said when Yoán Moncada fielded the ball for the final out, he thought: “I can’t believe this is happening.”

As for Abreu’s play to open the ninth, Rodón said: “I didn’t want him to blow out his knee. Without that play, we don’t get there.”

Rodón threw 114 pitches in his first career shutout and second complete game. He said he couldn’t recall shaking off catcher Zack Collins all night.

“Everything was working,” said Collins, who described Rodón as “electric.”

Rodón’s journey to Wednesday’s gem is remarkable.

The Sox non-tendered the left-hander Dec. 2, then re-signed him Feb. 1. He entered camp competing for a spot in the rotation, and he earned it with a spectacular spring training.

Rodón, 28, was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft. He has been hampered by a variety of injuries throughout his career.

He was limited to 12 starts in 2017 because of left biceps bursitis and left shoulder inflammation. After having offseason shoulder surgery, he made 20 starts in 2018 and seven more in 2019 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

He appeared in four games with two starts in 2020. He went on the 10-day injured list Aug. 4 with left shoulder soreness, was transferred to the 45-day IL on Sept. 13 and returned 11 days later.

He came to camp healthy and motivated.

And he received plenty of offensive support early Wednesday. Yermín Mercedes hit a three-run homer during a six-run first inning.

All attention then turned to Rodón. He received a nice defensive play by Leury García in the sixth when the shortstop fielded a hard-hit grounder by Pérez and threw to first for the second out. Rodón struck out Chang for the third out.

Rodón started the seventh by striking out Luplow. Cesar Hernandez flied out to center and José Ramírez lined out to left.

At that point Rodón said he started thinking, “This is getting a little real.”

Franmil Reyes popped out to second baseman Nick Madrigal to begin the eighth. Jake Bauers and Amed Rosario struck out swinging to put Rodón three outs from perfection.

The Sox had seven hits in the six-run first. Moncada drove in Adam Eaton with a single. Mercedes followed with his third home run. The 431-foot blast to left gave the Sox a 4-0 lead.

Andrew Vaughn doubled to left with two outs, and García knocked him in with a double. Madrigal followed with the final hit of the inning, an RBI single to right.

One night after being limited to three hits in 10 innings, the Sox more than doubled that mark against Zach Plesac. The Indians starter, who is from Crown Point, Ind., lasted just two-thirds of an inning.

Rodón had plenty to work with. And work he did.