Carlos Rodon stymies Astros as White Sox move 20 games above .500

Left-hander Carlos Rodon keeps rising to new heights.

So do the White Sox.

In his first start after the All-Star break, Rodon struck out 10 and allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings to lead the Sox to a 4-0 victory Sunday against the Astros. After losing the first five games against the Astros this season, the Sox won back-to-back games against a team they might have to beat in October.

Though there is still more than two months left in the regular season, it was important for the Sox to see some success against the Astros. They did that, winning the series despite dropping the opener Friday.

‘‘I think we needed this,’’ Rodon said. ‘‘We needed to take this series and prove that we can beat them and that we are just as good as them. I think that will lead into the season and the rest of the second half. Something we can build off.’’

The Sox improved to 20 games above .500 (56-36) for the first time this season and for the first time since Aug. 26, 2008.

Rodon, who was forced to win a spring-training battle for the fifth spot in the rotation, has been a big part of that success, earning his first All-Star selection. Sunday was his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season, and he set a team record with his 10th consecutive game with eight or more strikeouts.

Rodon was supported by a home run from Tim Anderson, who matched his personal best with a 15-game hitting streak. Anderson also had a hit and a run scored in his 11th consecutive game, breaking Adam Eaton’s team record set in 2015. Yoan Moncada hit his first homer since June 3, and Danny Mendick and Adam Engel had run-scoring singles.

Rodon, however, set the tone.

‘‘The thing we all noticed, from the first pitch to the first hitter, he was coming at it with his best stuff, very aggressive,’’ Sox manager Tony La Russa said. ‘‘You could tell he had respect for that team because he was coming out there ready to pitch. He maintained it for seven.’’

Rodon picked up where right-hander Lucas Giolito left off with his complete-game victory Saturday. In the last two games, Sox starters have thrown 16 innings and given up one run and four hits.

Combined with perfect innings by relievers Michael Kopech and Liam Hendriks, the Sox allowed only one baserunner. That came when Abraham Toro singled with one out in the third.

‘‘Obviously, Lucas really set the tone for us last night, kind of changing the tone and turning that corner,’’ Kopech said. ‘‘To get a win against those guys is obviously huge, and to go a complete game is even more impressive. And so I think we all kind of took that energy into today. I know Carlos did. He does what he does every outing — went out there and dominated. And that was a lot of fun to see.’’

Even with their injuries, things generally have been a lot of fun for the Sox this season. They’ve raced way ahead of the rest of the American League Central and are on track for their first division title since 2008.

To accomplish what they really want to accomplish, however, they’ll have to beat teams such as the Astros more routinely. This weekend — boosted by two cornerstones of their rotation — might be a start.

‘‘They are a very good team,’’ Rodon said. ‘‘That’s a team we’ll probably see in the playoffs. They are tough top to bottom, and it builds confidence when you have a start like that. You just keep going.’’