Carlos Rodon is doing his best to remain patient. But he admits it's not always easy.

Especially when the Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher is finding hitters at the big-league level are willing to grind out at-bats.

After making his third major league start, Rodon will have to wait for his second victory.

Shaun Marcum won his first start in almost two years, Michael Brantley had a two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Cleveland Indians beat the White Sox 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Chicago lost its second straight game for the first time this season — after a six-game winning streak.

The White Sox's top prospect pitched six innings and gave up one run and four hits and struck out four and walked five. He has walked 15 in 16 innings as a starter.

"(I) just gotta throw strikes," Rodon said. "When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, that's it right there."

Marcum didn't experience such issues.

Marcum went 6 2-3 innings and gave up two runs and four hits and struck out six for the Indians, who have won four of six.

Marcum (1-0) hadn't started a game in the major leagues since July 26, 2013, for the New York Mets. He was later diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, which involves nerves near the neck and caused tingling and numbness in Marcum's right hand, eventually leading to surgery.

"Maybe after the season I'll sit back and reflect on it," Marcum said. "But right now we've got to keep grinding away and trying to get better each and every day."

Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Cody Allen. Conor Gillaspie, whose home run in the seventh pulled Chicago within 4-2, fouled out to third before Alexei Ramirez's infield single cut Cleveland's lead to 4-3.

J.B. Shuck, pinch-hitting for Tyler Flowers, struck out to end the game and Allen picked up his eighth save in nine attempts.

Cleveland gave Marcum the lead in the seventh with three runs against Chicago reliever Dan Jennings (0-1). Ramirez's one-out single through a drawn-in infield put the Indians ahead 2-1, and then Brantley's double into the right-field corner gave Cleveland a 4-1 lead.

While Rodon was charged with only one earned run, he — along with White Sox manager Robin Ventura — understand the rookie has to have better control.

"You clean that up and you probably have a better chance to win that game," Ventura said. "Really on our pitching side, you're just giving them too many opportunities. You have to be able to clean that up and force them to swing the bat."