Contreras, White Sox keep on cruising

CLEVELAND – While much of the speculation has centered on upgrades before the July 31 trading deadline, Jose Contreras and battery mate Juan Castro have fortified the White Sox’s roster over the last five weeks.

Contreras’ renaissance resumed Wednesday night as the Sox extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-2 victory over Cleveland that completed a three-game sweep and moved them to within three games of American League Central leader Detroit.

The Sox (39-37) moved to two games above the .500 mark for the first time since May 1. They have won 13 of their last 17 on the road.

Since rejoining the Sox on June 8 from Triple-A Charlotte, Contreras has lowered his ERA from 8.19 to 4.84. More impressive is the manner in which he has dominated with the revival of his split-finger fastball to complement his other pitches.

“We’ve seen it before,” manager Ozzie Guillen said, referring to Contreras’ 17-game winning streak in 2005-06. “We’ve seen him at the best. He has a pretty good streak going. Unbelievable. That’s the same way he’s throwing now.”

Contreras downplayed the comparisons and the fact Castro has caught all five of his starts since Contreras returned from a one-month stint at Charlotte to regain command of all his pitches.

“It’s more of a matter I’m making my pitches,” Contreras said. “Castro is a great catcher, but A.J. [Pierzynski] caught me at my best too.”

Contreras struck out eight for the third time since rejoining the Sox. He struck out Ryan Garko on a 94-mph fastball to end the second, and he whiffed Shin-Soo Choo on a 79-mph split-finger fastball that Castro said resembled a knuckleball because of the manner in which it floated.

“His stuff is unbelievable,” Castro said. “If he keeps doing that, we’re in good shape.”
Sox starting pitchers have a 2.63 ERA in their last 19 starts.

The Sox acquired Castro from the New York Mets on May 29 in an attempt to upgrade their offense against left-handed starters. That paid off in the sixth when Castro ripped an opposite-field, three-run homer off Jeremy Sowers that snapped a 1-1 tie.