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Indians-White Sox Preview

Jul 8, 2009 - 5:38 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Cleveland (33-50) at Chicago (42-40), 8:11 p.m. EDT

Since being recalled from the minors last month, Chicago White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras has been outstanding. He's pitched that way against the Cleveland Indians throughout his career.

Contreras looks to lead the surging White Sox to a fifth straight victory over the last-place Indians on Wednesday night when the AL Central rivals continue a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

After opening this season 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA, Contreras (3-7, 4.84 ERA) used his stint in the minor leagues to save his season, and most likely, his career. The 37-year-old right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA in five starts since being called up from Triple-A Charlotte on June 8.

"That time in the minor leagues was great," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen, whose team has won five of six at home. "He's in a groove right now."

In Wednesday's 6-2 victory at Cleveland, Contreras struck out eight and walked one while allowing two runs and five hits over eight innings. Opponents are hitting .178 against him since he returned to the rotation.

"I've got it back," said Contreras, who is 5-2 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 starts against the Indians, including 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his last four.

Tuesday's victory was the 15th in 21 games for the White Sox, who have pulled within two games of AL Central-leading Detroit.

Chicago's Paul Konerko hit a career-high three homers - including his eighth career grand slam - and drove in a career-best seven runs as the White Sox (43-40) defeated Cleveland 10-6 in Tuesday's series opener. Konerko is batting .366 with eight home runs and 17 RBIs his last 11 home games versus the Indians.

"It was one of those days where I didn't feel all that different going into it," Konerko said after becoming the 12th player in franchise history to hit three homers in a game. "It was just having good at-bats and making good decisions."

It was Konerko's 24th career multihomer game and first since hitting two in a 12-6 loss to Cleveland on Sept. 27.

Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore hit two home runs Tuesday and is 7 for 14 with three homers and seven RBIs over his last four games.

Cleveland (33-51), which has lost six of seven on the road, hands the ball to left-hander Aaron Laffey after its ERA ballooned to a major league-worst 5.34 following Tuesday's loss.

"There's never been more opportunity for starting pitchers, then we have going right now," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "Somebody is going to have to step up. We're going to keep trying guys."

Laffey (3-1, 3.93) makes his first start since May 2 at Detroit and first appearance since May 22 when he left in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss at Cincinnati with a right oblique strain. He was placed on the disabled list the following day.

Laffey's return has been delayed due to control issues in the minors.

"We need to see more than that before we bring him up here," Wedge told the Indians' official Web site after Laffey walked six in three innings in a Double-A start on June 28.

Laffey, who is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts this season, pitched 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief in a 9-4 win over Chicago on May 11.

He is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts versus the White Sox.