Contreras doesn't get much support in loss to Reds

After blowing a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning and falling to the Cubs 6-5 on Thursday at Wrigley Field, manager Ozzie Guillen was eager to see how the White Sox would bounce back from the crushing loss.

"I liked the way we played," Guillen said told reporters Friday night at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. "We responded pretty well."

But not well enough.

The Sox got an early spark - and lead - when rookie second baseman Chris Getz hit his first major-league homer, a 2-run shot off Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo in the fourth inning.

But the Reds answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, the first in 192/3 innings off White Sox starter Jose Contreras since he returned from Class AAA Charlotte.

While Arroyo recovered from Getz's home run and held the Sox to 2 runs on 2 hits over 62/3 innings, the Reds added on against Contreras, taking the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth inning.

Cincinnati added another run off Sox reliever Octavio Dotel in the seventh, putting them ahead 4-2.

That allowed the Reds to withstand Paul Konerko's solo home run in the ninth inning - his 300th with the White Sox - while snapping a nine-game losing streak to the South Siders in the interleague series.

Contreras (2-6) was razor sharp early, but he seemed to wilt under muggy conditions and was burned by Brandon Phillips' 2-run homer.

"He threw the ball good," Guillen said of Contreras. "Late in the game, he started feeling it. But he continues to throw the ball good, and that's all we can ask."

The Sox had only 4 hits, and 2 came in the ninth inning against Reds closer Francisco Cordero.

"We had a few chances, but Arroyo threw the ball good when he had to," Guillen said. "The ballclub couldn't do too much in the game. Nothing to be excited about, just a couple of home runs."

Phillips' home run was his first since June 3, a span of 53 at-bats.

"I just missed with a slider," Contreras told reporters. "It was supposed to be down and away. It was middle of the plate, and he hit it out. It cost the game."

Phillips actually drove in the deciding run off Dotel with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

Reds 4, White Sox 3

Friday's grade: C-. Cincinnati has a pretty good pitching staff, but the Sox have to do better than 4 hits, 2 of which came in the ninth inning.

D for Dotel: Octavio Dotel continued his struggles, allowing 1 run on 2 hits in 1 inning. The reliever's ERA was 1.04 on June 1; it has swelled to 3.12.

Breaking through: Rookie second baseman Chris Getz hit his first major-league home run, a 2-run shot in the fourth inning.

On tap: Tonight, the White Sox and Reds play in the Civil Rights Game. Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali and Bill Cosby will be honored for their contributions.