CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Adam Eaton doubled twice and scored two runs and the Chicago White Sox beat Kansas City 7-2 on Friday night to prevent the Royals from gaining ground in the playoff race.Rodon (7-8) fanned Paulo Orlando with the bases loaded on his 116th pitch to end the sixth inning and move to 5-0 in his last seven starts.Kendrys Morales had a two-run single in the first inning for Kansas City, which has dropped six of nine and remained four games behind the second wild-card after Detroit beat Baltimore.Eaton doubled to lead off the first and fifth innings off Yordano Ventura (10-10) and scored each time on Melky Cabrera RBI. Tyler Saladino had three hits and drove in two runs in Chicagos third straight win over a playoff contender.The 23-year-old Rodon struggled early this season and went on the disabled list after he sprained his left wrist slipping on the dugout steps. But the lefty has been sharp since returning.In his career-high 24th start, Rodon allowed two runs -- one earned -- and six hits while lowering his ERA to 1.85 ERA in his past seven outings, all quality starts.Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau added RBI singles as Chicago had 13 hits.Ventura allowed five runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits over seven innings in taking his first loss in seven starts.Dan Jennings got five outs and Tommy Kahnle worked the ninth for the White Sox, who have won five of seven despite slim playoff hopes.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez (bruised right wrist) sat out a second straight game. He still feels it a little bit when he swings, manager Ned Yost said. He feels fine when he throws, so were definitely making progress. Well shoot for tomorrow. . RF Lorenzo Cain (wrist) started for the first time since Aug. 30, but looked uncomfortable throwing. . LHP Matt Strahm left to attend his grandfathers funeral and was expected back Saturday.White Sox: Struggling RHP James Shields was cleared to start Saturday after complaining of a sore back in his last outing. Shields hasnt missed a start since 2007. I just want to post every five days and throw 200 innings, Shields said. Im obviously not going to get (200 innings) this year for the first time in nine seasons, which is disappointing.HOT SOXAbreu went 2 for 4 to improve to 22 for 50 (.440) with 16 RBI in his past 11 games. Saladino is 6 for 8 in the past two games.TIRED SORIAYost said hes been overusing struggling reliever Joakim Soria and planned to limit his appearances. Soria has six blown saves and eight losses.UP NEXTShields (5-17, 6.07 ERA) will face Royals RHP Edinson Volquez (10-10, 5.02) on Saturday night. Wholesale NFL Shirts . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Cheap Shirts For Sale . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. http://www.cheapshirtsfromchina.com/ . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Cheap Nike Shirts . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Wholesale Shirts . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Young Essendon AFL star Zach Merrett is the runaway winner of the Bombers best-and-fairest award, the Crichton Medal, at the clubs end-of-season awards ceremony.Merrett, who was widely considered unlucky not to make the All Australian squad, finished 105 points ahead of joint runners-up Joe Daniher and James Kelly on Wednesday night to claim the clubs highest individual award.The 20-year-old played every game of a difficult season for the Bombers, who managed just three wins and finished bottom of the ladder without the 12 experienced players serving doping suspensions.He averaged 30 possessions a match and became the clubs third-youngest captain in history when he stood in for the injured Brendon Goddard in rounds 21 and 22.Zach was our most-consistent performer this season and is a deserving winner of the 2016 Crichton Medal, coach John Worsfold said.Zach played some exceptional football this season, and that was built off the back of his professionalism, living elite standards and a hunger to improve and develop with each game.dddddddddddd(He) showed tremendous leadership in a season, which challenged our playing group on a weekly basis.Zach is an exciting young player and hes really determined to work hard over the summer in order to come back ready for another big season in 2017.Merrett also claimed the best club man and best defensive player awards and Daniher won the leading goal kicker award with a season tally of 43 majors.2016 CRICHTON MEDAL TOP 10:1. Zach Merrett: 3782. Joe Daniher: 273; James Kelly: 2734. Brendon Goddard: 2695. David Zaharakis: 2576. Mitch Brown: 2457. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti: 2368. Orazio Fantasia: 2299. Matt Dea: 22810. Darcy Parish: 224 ' ' '