Indians cool off Sox on a hot day, taking series with 8-4 win

The White Sox were having themselves quite a homestand, until the Cleveland Indians arrived.

The Sox won three of four from the first-place Yankees to kick off a lengthy stay at U.S. Cellular Field, and they followed up with 2 wins in three games against the Angels, another first-place team.

Surely, more success was in the offing Friday when the Indians arrived on the South Side, considering they made seven trades since June 27 with a nod to 2010, waving goodbye to talent like Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Mark DeRosa and Ryan Garko.

"I think they came in here after winning some baseball games against Minnesota," said Mark Kotsay, who played first base for the White Sox on Sunday and went 2-for-4.

"They have a really loose, relaxed intensity about their club, and they've got some guys that want to prove things for the future. Those are always difficult clubs to compete against."

Kotsay was right. Cleveland came in after winning two of three from the Twins, and the Indians also won two of three from the Detroit Tigers before that.

On the strength of Sunday's 8-4 victory at the Cell, Cleveland did the same thing to the Sox.

"We were real excited about the way we started against two good ballclubs," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "But when we finished the series against the Angels and Cleveland came into town, I made it clear you have to be careful with those type of teams.

"They're not going to lay down and feel sorry for themselves. They're going to come out and play. They did it well."

Sox starting pitcher Jose Contreras was faring very well through the first four innings on a steamy Sunday afternoon, allowing no runs and 2 hits.

But Contreras (4-11) melted down in the fifth, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks before getting pulled with two outs.

Did the 37-year-old Contreras just tire out?

"I hope it was that," Guillen said. "Believe me, I hope it was that. Because if it was anything else, we're in trouble. He was cruising real well, throwing the ball real good, attacking the strike zone the way we think he can.

"All of a sudden everything was bad."

Contreras is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in his last 5 starts, but he's likely to keep his spot until Freddy Garcia and/or Jake Peavy are ready to join the rotation.

"It wasn't that," Contreras said through a translator about running out of gas. "I wasn't tired at all. I just lost my rhythm. I left some of my pitches up in the zone and they just started getting to them."

The Indians were able to wipe out a 3-0 deficit and win the series from the Sox.

"It was just a bad day overall," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "We have to be better."

So does relief pitcher Scott Linebrink, who was roughed up for 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk over 11/3 innings. Since the all-star break, he has allowed 7 earned runs in 62/3 innings.

"I've just got to use the time out there to get back on track," Linebrink said. "I've been a little off here lately. Just be a little bit more aggressive.

"Get ahead of hitters, don't be in quite so many defensive counts. Just get strike one and go from there."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p> <p class="News"><b>Sunday's grade:</b> D. If the Sox don't start pitching better, they might fall too far behind the Detroit Tigers for Jake Peavy to make a difference.</p> <p class="News"><b>Streak's over:</b> The Sox lost a home series for the first time since June 8-11, against the Tigers.</p> <p class="News"><b>Short stay:</b> Jose Contreras failed to make it out of the fifth inning for the second straight start.</p> <p class="News"><b>A.J. OK: </b>A.J. Pierzynski was 2-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday. Over his last eight games, the catcher's batting .452 (14-for-31).</p> <p class="breakhead">Scouting report</p> <p class="News">White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet Plus Monday; Channel 9 Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WSCR 670-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>Pitching matchups:</b> The Sox' Gavin Floyd (9-6) vs. Luke French (1-0) Monday; John Danks (9-8) vs. Doug Fister (0-0) Tuesday; Mark Buehrle (11-6) vs. Felix Hernandez (12-4) Wednesday. All games 9:10 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>At a glance:</b> Floyd is the White Sox' hottest starter, going 7-2 with a 2.24 ERA over his last 14 outings. The Sox have lost 10 of their last 12 on the road. Fister is scheduled to make his first major-league start after being used out of the Mariners' bullpen. The White Sox won two of three from the Mariners at the Cell in late April. The Sox were 2-1 at Seattle last season after going 0-5 at Safeco in 2007.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Oakland Athletics, Friday-Sunday at McAfee Coliseum</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=312702">Hit batters becoming sore spot for Ozzie <span class="date">[8/10/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>