Contreras, Jenks solid in victory
CLEVELAND -- On Dec. 17, 2004, the White Sox acquired Bobby Jenks off waivers from the Angels.
It was considered a minor transaction at the time, but the Sox were more than willing to invest the $20,000 claiming fee to grab the big right-handed reliever.
As it turns out, it was money very well spent. Jenks closed out Sunday's 8-0 win over the Indians at Jacobs Field as the White Sox snapped their road losing streak at 11.
While winning for just the second time in 12 games, the White Sox finally got a strong effort from starter Jose Contreras, who picked up the win after pitching 6¿ innings.
Taking the term effectively wild to the extreme, Contreras allowed 6 walks and 4 hits. The right-hander exited with two outs in the seventh inning after throwing 110 pitches.
While Contreras (8-16) had a good day, Jenks has had a great season. Shortly after, he joined the White Sox and quickly established himself as a rock-solid relief pitcher, even though he now has more success with off-speed pitches than fastballs.
As the Sox make tracks for the off-season, they know Jenks is going to be on the roster next year. The rest of the White Sox' bullpen, which has been a disaster for much of the season, is TBA.
"Obviously, the bullpen has had its ups and downs all season long, as far as consistency,'' Jenks said.
The bullpen was a big problem last year as well, and Sox general manager Kenny Williams made wholesale changes in the off-season.
Jenks, Matt Thornton and Mike MacDougal were set at the back of the bullpen, and Williams added three hard throwers -- Nick Masset, David Aardsma and Andrew Sisco -- to the front.
Not only have Thornton and MacDougal struggled, Masset, Aardsma and Sisco were all shipped out to Class AAA Charlotte. Aardsma is still pitching in relief, but Masset and Sisco are starters.
Williams, obviously, is facing another rebuilding project with the bullpen this off-season.
"We thought that Aardsma, Sisco and MacDougal, you put those three pieces together, with the potential they have, that's a good bullpen,'' Guillen said. "All of a sudden, wow. It didn't work. That's one thing Kenny will make a priority in the off-season. He's looking to get that as strong as he can.''
Guillen had praise Sunday for Contreras.
"The last two games, he's gotten better," Guillen said of Contreras. "When he throws strikes, he's real good. I told him in the dugout, 'Make those guys hit the ball and see what happens.' ''
The Sox hit the ball all over Jacobs Field, tying their season high with 18. A.J. Pierzynski was 4-for-4, snapping an 0-for-16 skid. And leadoff man Jerry Owens was 3-for-4, raising his average from .243 to .251.
"It's fun to see that,'' Guillen said. "Hopefully, this is the month we turn it around.''
White Sox 8, Indians 0
At the plate: The Sox tied their season high with 18 hits. A.J. Pierzynski was 4-for-5 with 1 RBI. Jerry Owens and Jim Thome had 2 RBI apiece.
On the mound: Starter Jose Contreras earned the win after pitching 62/3 innings. He had 6 walks and allowed 4 hits.
-- Scot Gregor