Since manager Ozzie Guillen implored his players two weeks ago to play as hard as possible heading into the All-Star break, the White Sox have piled up momentum heading into a weekend series at American League Central rival Minnesota.
Jose Contreras extended his renaissance Wednesday night with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball to lead the Sox to a 5-1 victory over Cleveland.
The Sox (44-40) won for the ninth time in their last 11 games, including seven of nine against division opponents Kansas City and Cleveland as they stayed within two games of AL Central leader Detroit.
The Sox can sweep the Indians for the second time in two weeks with a victory Thursday.
This was Contreras’ last start before the All-Star break, and he has played a large part in the Sox’s resurgence since being brought back from Triple-A Charlotte.
Since Contreras’ return, which came shortly after Guillen expressed his disgust with the team’s poor fundamentals in a loss to Detroit, the Sox are 18-9.
“It’s like making a big trade,” Guillen said. “That’s the way I look at it. That’s a big trade for us to have him. He came up right on time when we needed it most. We struggled early when he got here. Since he has been back, stuff has started turning around with the pitching staff. Everyone is back on track.”
Since rejoining the Sox, Contreras is 4-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts.
“I felt younger after the injury, losing all that weight,” Contreras said, referring to his 30-pound weight loss after tearing his left Achilles’ tendon last August. “If I would have known it was going to help that much, I would have lost it six years ago.
“Physically, I was ready when I came into the season, but mentally, I wasn’t ready yet. Finally, it’s all coming together.”
Backup Ramon Castro has been behind the plate for all six of Contreras’ starts since his return.
“It was a great pickup,” Contreras said of the acquisition of Castro from the New York Mets on May 29. “No disrespect to A.J. [Pierzynski]. I won 17 in a row with A.J. But having Ramon on the team is like a fresh start with the team, as a whole.
“I’ve shook off Ramon twice, and both times they hit home runs. So I’m not going to shake him off often anymore.”
Wednesday’s victory marked the Sox’s eighth without hitting a home run. Jermaine Dye knocked in three runs to increase his season total to 54 — four behind Paul Konerko, who hit an RBI single during a three-run third.
“I think J.D. has had a great career, and no one is talking about it,” Guillen said.
The Sox capped the rally on a sacrifice fly by Gordon Beckham, who has 18 RBIs since being recalled from Charlotte on June 4.
