Contreras Is Simply Too Good for Tigers

CHICAGO — Jose Contreras looked like the ace the Chicago White Sox relied on last season when they needed a big win en route to a World Series championship.

Contreras pitched a three-hitter for his first major league shutout, beating the team with the best record in baseball Friday night as the White Sox roughed up rookie Justin Verlander in a 5-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

“The shutout is not as big a deal as the victory,” Contreras said through an interpreter. “It was a huge game. I was going to go up against the best team in the league, the Detroit Tigers, and going up against their best pitcher.”

Jim Thome and A.J. Pierzynski hit two-run homers in the fifth off Verlander as the White Sox cut Detroit’s lead in the Central Division to 7 1/2 games.