PITTSBURGH — In the fifth and final inning of his start two weeks ago in Philadelphia, something clicked for Carlos Rodón. Ever since, he has been the lights-out fireballer who showed up to start the season.
In a 2-0 win Friday over the Pirates to open a seven-game road swing, an especially efficient Rodón completed eight innings for the first time this season and worked into the seventh for the first time since his second start. For the first 4 2/3, he didn’t allow a hit. And for all eight, Pittsburgh couldn’t muster one run, or really come all that close.
Behind the Rodón-led effort Friday, Giants pitchers held their opponent to two or fewer runs for the seventh time in their past nine games, boasting a 1.21 ERA over their past 82 innings. Their only losses in that span were also the only games their pitching faltered (ever so slightly, with games of three and four runs allowed).
