injury. ... LB Eli Harold left late in the second quarter after hitting the ground hard at the bottom of a pileup. No announcement

CHICAGO -- While the Chicago White Sox face a near impossible task to reach the postseason, they have made life miserable this week for division rivals with better odds.Carlos Rodon struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Adam Eaton doubled twice and scored two runs and the White Sox downed Kansas City 7-2 on Friday night.The Royals lost for the sixth time in nine games and remained four games out of the second AL wild card. Detroit beat Baltimore to pull even with the Orioles for the final postseason berth.The White Sox took two of three against the Tigers earlier this week.When you can beat division rivals and good, quality teams, it kind of shows the quality of team that we have here that we really havent produced on a consistent basis, Eaton said. I know Ive been preaching consistency, but its truly what has lacked within our game.Rodon (7-8) ran into trouble in the sixth when he loaded the bases. Manager Robin Ventura kept him in, and he fanned Paulo Orlando on his 116th pitch for the third out and move to 5-0 in his last seven starts.Its huge. It helps me build my confidence as well, Rodon said. Im glad he trusts in me to get that last guy out. No matter how many pitches Im at, I always want to get that last out.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.Kendrys Morales had a two-run single in the first inning for Kansas City. Lorenzo Cain started for the first time since Aug. 30 following a wrist injury and reached base three times with a single and two walks despite pain when he squeezes the bat.That shows his value, manager Ned Yost said. He finds a way to produce.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.He was great, Ventura said. Innings where they started to get guys on and it got a little dicey, hes finding a way to reach and find something else, another level.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. They remain four games under .500, though, and eight games out of the final playoff spot.When you take three games from division rivals that are atop the division, its fun to do, Eaton said. It should instill confidence in us.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez (bruised right wrist) sat out a second straight game. He still feels it a little bit when he swings, Yost said. Well shoot for tomorrow. ... 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.Andre Dawson Jersey Large . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Kosuke Fukudome Jersey Large .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/ .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Ron Santo Jersey Large .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Authentic Custom Cubs Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla.DENVER -- Christian Ponder ran for a score and threw for another in the fourth quarter and San Francisco pulled away to beat the Denver Broncos 31-24 in an exhibition Saturday night.Ponder was signed earlier in the week to bolster the teams depth at quarterback.Blaine Gabbert, trying to solidify his hold on the starting quarterback job in Colin Kaepernicks absence, led a scoring drive and finished 6 of 9 for 69 yards in roughly a quarter and a half of play.Kaepernick, who missed the first exhibition because of a sore right shoulder, resumed throwing in practice Thursday and is expected to begin fully participating in workouts next week in hopes of playing Friday against Green Bay.Ponder, who was out of football last season, was added by the 49ers (1-1) after backup quarterback Thad Lewis suffered a season-ending knee injury in their exhibition opener against Houston last week. Ponder scored on a 22-yard bootleg and then completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dres Anderson.The Broncos (1-1), also in search of a quarterback after the retirement of Peyton Manning and free agency departure of Brock Osweiler, did not get a decisive performance from their contenders.Trevor Siemian led a nifty game-opening touchdown drive that C.J. Anderson finished with a 19-yard run, but he also was picked off by Eric Reid, who returned the interception 42 yards for the score. Reid easily eluded Siemians attempt to tackle him near the goal line. Siemian was 10 of 14 for 75 yards.Mark Sanchez, who started the Broncos exhibition opener last week, relieved Siemian and led a drive ending in a field goal but struggled overall, with three sacks and fumbling twice. He completed 10 of 17 for 120 yards and just missed having one of his throws intercepted by cornerback Chris Davis.Paxton Lynch, the Broncos first-round draft pick, was the most productive among the three though he has primarily gotten third-team reps in training camp.He threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to John Phillips late in the third quarter and another covering 4 yards to Durron Neal in the waning minutes. His final pass was intercepted in the last moments by cornerback Kenneth Acker.ROOKIE WATCH49ers: WR Bryce Treggs, an undrafted free agent out of Cal, caught a 25-yard pass frrom fellow rookie Jeff Driskel to help set up a second-quarter field goal.dddddddddddd Treggs later left the game with a knee injury. WR Devon Cajuste, an undrafted free agent from Stanford, caught a 40-yard pass from Jeff Driskel in the third quarter.Broncos: FB Andy Janovich, a sixth-round pick out of Nebraska, helped clear the way on Andersons first-quarter touchdown run by picking off a 49ers defender with his lead block on the play.POSITION BATTLES49ers: RB Mike Davis, in the mix for the right to back up starter Carlos Hyde, ran five times for 26 yards but also had two fumbles. ... RB DuJuan Harris, also competing for a backup spot, appeared headed for the end zone late in the third quarter, but fumbled at the 1 and the ball was recovered in the end zone by the Broncos for a touchback.Broncos: Rookie RB Devontae Booker, competing with Ronnie Hillman to be the primary backup to starter C.J. Anderson, ran nine times for 36 yards and also provided solid pass protection when asked to stay in and block on passing plays. Zaire Anderson, looking to add depth at inside linebacker and contribute on special teams, forced two fumbles.INJURY UPDATE49ers: LB Nick Bellore was sidelined by a knee injury in the third quarter. ... DT Tony Jerod-Eddie was sidelined in the first half with a chest injury. ... LB Eli Harold left late in the second quarter after hitting the ground hard at the bottom of a pileup. No announcement was made on the nature of his injury. ... WR Bruce Ellington did not play because of an ankle injury. ... DT DeForest Buckner, the first of the 49ers two first-round picks, was held out with a lower-body injury.Broncos: T Darrion Weems left the game early in the second quarter with a concussion. ... LB Corey Nelson left midway through the second quarter with a wrist injury. ... DE Vance Walker, who tore his right ACL during a training camp practice earlier in the week, has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. ... OLB DeMarcus Ware, continuing his recovery from back problems, missed a second exhibition game, but could begin practicing with the team as soon as next week. ' ' '