Rodon learns in loss: Don't throw fastballs down the middle to Ortiz

If nothing else, Chicago White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon learned a valuable lesson Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, where the 23-year-old was saddled with his fourth loss of 2016 after allowing three runs over six frames against the Boston Red Sox.

What was it, you ask?

"Don't throw a fastball down the middle to Big Papi," Rodon quipped to Rachel Brady of WLSAM 890 after his club fell, 5-2, to snap a three-game winning streak.

Evidently, this radical notion eluded Rodon during the fifth inning of the contest, when the North Carolina State product - who had allowed just one run through the first four frames - threw a 93-mph heater right down the middle that Ortiz just about hit to Wrigley Field, 12 miles uptown.

Ortiz's homer, the 509th of his career, not only moved him into a tie with Gary Sheffield for 25th on the all-time list, but was also the first home run Rodon has allowed to a left-handed batter since debuting with the White Sox 13 months ago.

With Ortiz, though, that's just kind of how it goes, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

"I don't care what his age is, you just don't like him coming up in key situations and (Rodon) paid for it," Ventura said.