DETROIT — Yoan Moncada hit a 458-foot home run to jump-start the White Sox on a cold, windy night, Jose Abreu collected the 499th and 500th RBI of his career and Carlos Rodon allowed one run in six innings in a 7-3 victory Friday against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
After Rodon (3-2, 2.89 ERA) limited the Tigers to three hits — including a homer to Josh Harrison — struck out six and walked three, the Sox scored five times in the seventh against Jordan Zimmermann (0-3) and Daniel Stumpf. Leury Garcia had a two-run single, Abreu a two-run double and Yonder Alonso an RBI single in the inning.
‘‘I really wasn’t thinking about [the cold],’’ said Rodon, who pitched without a T-shirt. ‘‘It was 39 [degrees] with some nice wind. Figured pitching in would be good. Not a fun day to hit, so try to take advantage of that.’’
Rodon threw 95 pitches, 57 for strikes. His fastball was in the low 90s, but he liked how he commanded it and used 19 changeups — five for swinging strikes — to complement his good slider.
The longest (went) yard
Moncada’s homer was his sixth of the season and the longest of his career. He also walked with the bases loaded to drive in the Sox’ second run, singled sharply to left batting right-handed and scored two runs.
‘‘That was a mammoth homer,’’ Abreu said. ‘‘He’s doing things we all knew he could do. Now he has a chance to display what he can do. Amazing.’’
‘‘I haven’t seen a ball travel that far here before,’’ said Sox bench coach Joe McEwing, who managed the game in suspended Rick Renteria’s absence. ‘‘[Abreu] went into the hedges a couple of times. I’ve never seen a ball here hit that far.’’
RELATED
• White Sox’ Tim Anderson, Rick Renteria serve one-game suspensions
• White Sox slugger Jose Abreu fighting early-season slump
McEwing said Moncada is locked in offensively, defensively and on the bases.
‘‘It’s maturity,’’ McEwing said. ‘‘We can never forget how young he is [23]. He continues to develop and get better every single day. I’m just so happy for him for where he is mentally and how focused he is on a daily basis.’’
Cordell contributing
Outfielder Ryan Cordell, whom Renteria said would get regular playing time after his call-up Thursday from
Class AAA Charlotte, singled, walked, scored two runs, stole a base and banged into the right-field wall on a catch to rob Grayson Greiner of extra bases.
Cordell, 26, went 3-for-4 with a homer in a 9-7 loss Thursday. He was 2-for-6 with a homer, a double and three RBI in five games after making the Opening Day roster but was sent to Charlotte on April 7, essentially to make room for fifth starter Ervin Santana.
He was acquired from the Brewers in a trade for right-hander Anthony Swarzak in 2017.
This and that
Abreu, who was batting .133 in his previous 13 games, went 2-for-5 to raise his average to .189.
• Harrison, Greiner and Niko Goodrum hit solo homers for the Tigers. Goodrum’s came in the ninth against Sox closer Alex Colome in a non-save situation.
