Contreras ruptures Achilles', gone for seasons

Clouds gathered in the White Sox favor on Saturday evening. But otherwise, just about everything went wrong for the home team.

A well-timed rainstorm washed out batting practice for the visiting Boston Red Sox, after the White Sox were almost finished hitting. Then Jose Contreras, making his first start since July 13, retired five of the first six Boston batters.

But with two outs in the second inning, Contreras stumbled on his way to cover first base and ruptured his left Achilles' tendon. Contreras, 36, will have surgery in the coming days and is definitely out for the season. The White Sox can only hope his career isn't over.

"It's a sad day. Jose's going to be out for a while. Maybe a year," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Those kind of injuries, you don't know how well you're going to come back. Hopefully he can pitch again."

In the meantime, Boston shelled reliever Boone Logan for 4 runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and went on to win 6-2 before a sellout crowd at U.S. Cellular Field. Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-2) allowed 4 hits and 1 run over 8 innings.

Now desperate for pitching help, the White Sox acquired left-hander Horacio Ramirez from Kansas City after the game in exchange for Class A outfielder Paulo Orlando.

Ramirez has been strictly a reliever this season, posting a 2.59 ERA in 15 appearances. But he was a frequent starter during five previous seasons with Atlanta and Seattle. He went 12-4 with the Braves as a rookie in 2003.

The Sox also sent third baseman Josh Fields down to Triple-A Charlotte, and Logan will join him in the minors today. With Contreras headed back to the disabled list, the White Sox will need to add three new players.

Guillen also nominated D.J. Carrasco for a starting role. He entered Saturday's game after Contreras went down and allowed just 1 run in 4 innings.

"Originally, in the off-season, that's what I signed here to do, help out in a starting role," said Carrasco, who started 22 games for Kansas City from 2003-05. "If that's what they want, by all means that's what I'll try to do for the team."

Besides losing the game and Contreras, the White Sox also lost their grip on first place in the AL Central, falling a half-game behind Minnesota.

"We do not deserve to be in first place," Guillen said. "The guys in first place right now are playing better ball than we have the last couple of weeks and that's why we are where we are."

As usual, Saturday's setbacks brought out the feistiness in Guillen, who seemed perturbed by Logan's performance. Facing five batters in the seventh inning, Logan gave up 4 runs, 4 hits and a walk. The big blow was a 3-run double by David Ortiz.

"Everybody did a great job in the game out of the pitching staff besides Logan," Guillen said. "This is a pennant race. I want men on the field. We've got to step it up."