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White Sox, Contreras look to rediscover winning ways at home

Sep 22, 2006 - 1:00 PM Seattle (74-79) at Chi White Sox (85-68) 8:35 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Jose Contreras and the Chicago White Sox have thrived at U.S. Cellular Field for the majority of 2006. That success recently has deteriorated.

Contreras seeks his first home win since August 11 when the reeling White Sox continue a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

In a showing manager Ozzie Guillen deemed "pathetic," the White Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games with Thursday's series-opening 9-0 setback. The defending World Series champions remained 5 1/2 games off the pace in the American League wild card standings and six behind Detroit in the AL Central Division with nine to play.

Chicago has dropped 10 of its last 18 home games since the middle of August after winning 39 of its first 60 contests here this season. Contreras (13-8, 4.08 ERA) has posted an 11.57 ERA in losing his last two starts at U.S. Cellular Field after going 7-0 with a 2.55 ERA in his first 11 home outings of 2006.

In his last start Sunday, Contreras surrendered five runs and eight hits in six innings of a 5-4 loss that completed a three-game sweep at Oakland. The Cuban righthander has gone 4-8 with a 4.98 ERA since the All-Star break this season after posting a mark of 11-2 with a 2.96 ERA in the second half of 2005.

Contreras has sported a 2.51 ERA in winning both career starts against the Mariners, who counter with Gil Meche (11-8, 4.34). The 28-year-old Meche has won his last two outings after going 0-4 with a 5.70 ERA in his previous eight starts.

Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre put the finishing touches on the series-opening triumph with a ninth-inning grand slam. It was the first home run in 18 career games against Chicago for Beltre, who has posted 14 RBI in eight contests vs. teams from the AL Central this month.