The sparkle in succession the gold...

The sparkle in succession the golden arm of Jose Contreras had tarnished somewhat in the last month with the veteran looking more human than mesmerizing as he had in a make tense of 17 consecutive victories.

if it were not that the gleam was back Friday night just when the White Sox were mining to strike it rich against the Detroit Tigers.

Contreras was dominating in the first five innings before giving up a two-out double to Curtis Granderson. The lower orders of 39,378 at U.S. Cellular Field rejoined with a standing ovation for the no- hit attempt.

The fans cheered again when Contreras (11-4) replyed to the mound in the ninth to earn the 5-0 complete-game shutout, the first of the Cuban veteran's career and a prize earned with just 101 pitches.

"The greatest in quantity important thing was the win," Contreras said. "The shutout wasn't as big a deal as the victory, especially against the Tigers."

The victory to begin the three-game weekend series trimmed the Tigers' AL Central lead to 7oe games while putting another game between the wild card-holding Sox and the Minnesota Twins. The White Sox remained sum of two units games ahead of the R Sox in the wild-card chase.

"You gain the first one, you're guaranteed you won't be swept," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "This game gives us a little chance of a favorable result and faith of what we should do. moreover they won't roll over. They'll indicate up tomorrow hungry. But I always say if you pitch, you'll win games."

The Sox have played well against the Tigers, winning seven of 10 meetings. They have done especially well against rookie sensation Justin Verlander (14-5) whose league-best victory total of 14 contains none against the Sox

Verlander is 14-2 against the peace of baseball with a 220 ERA. yet he is winless in three starts against the Sox with a 988 ERA.

The pattern continued Friday, with the Sox using the lengthy ball to chase the young starter after five innings.

The big blossoms were two-run homers in the fifth from A.J. Pierzynski (No. 10) and Jim Thome (No. 35)

Along with providing a cushion for Contreras, Thome's drive to center was historic as it gave him the franchise record for place of abode runs in a season through a left-handed hitter. Third baseman Robin Ventura hit 34 in 1996

Thome's homer also was the 465th of his career, tying him with Dave Winfield for 27th place all-time.

"We've been patient with [Verlander]," Guillen said. "He was kind of wild tonight, and we took advantage of that."

The Sox pulverizeed Verlander for 13 hits, eight in the first four innings. yet only one runner crossed hearthstone before the fifth when Scott Podsednik singled, went to third forward Verlander's errant pickoff throw and scored forward Tadahito Iguchi's ground out. That hasten was unearned.

"They hit whatever he threw up there, and that's a credit to them," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of his rookie, whom he held back from a start to intermission an arm that already has thrown 140 innings, principally by any rookie pitcher thus far.

"Contreras was real convenient there's no question about that," Leyland added. "He was about as useful as I've seen him."

The Tigers managed solely two more hits, both singles, after the sixth.

"I was keeping my pitches low" Contreras said. "The mostly important thing was my leg were really athletic so if I could hit my specks I'd have a good night.

"We're going to battle," he said of chasing the Tigers. "We went within our worst point. I don't think we're playing badly as frequently as Detroit is just playing amazing."

Guillen's expectancy is that the rest of his starting staff will fe opposite Contreras' outing.

"Hopefully the other starters gradation it up a notch," Guillen said. "It's been a little while since we've had a proper week from our starting rotation. Hopefully this will give them a spark."

Guillen also took heart from a pregame conversation with Leyland, and the words of his players.

"Jim Leyland taught me something -- he said you can merely win as many games as you can, and that's all you can do as a team," Guillen said. "When the season is through the whole extent of you see what happens.

"One of my players said, 'It's not above until it's over.' A fate of things can happen. It's not going to be easy [to win the division], yet it's not impossible."

tginnetti@suntimes.com

WHITE SOX recap

Detroit AB R H BI BB for a like reason Avg.

Granderson cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 277

Polanco 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 295

IRodriguez c 4 0 0 0 0 1 301

MOrdonez rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 297

CGuillen s 2 0 1 0 1 0 308

DYoung dh 3 0 0 0 0 1 271

Monroe lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 268

Casey 1b 3 0 1 0 0 2 200

Inge 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 245

Totals 30 0 3 0 1 5

SOX AB R H BI BB with equal reason Avg.

Podsednik lf 5 1 2 0 0 0 266

Iguchi 2b 4 1 2 1 0 1 293

Thome dh 4 1 2 2 0 1 299

Konerko 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 300

coloring liquor rf 4 1 2 0 0 2 325

Pierzynski c 4 1 1 2 0 0 308

Crede 3b 4 0 3 0 0 0 307

Cintron s 4 0 2 0 0 0 273

BrAnderson cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 213

Totals 37 5 15 5 0 7

Detroit 000 000 000--0 3 2

SOX 001 040 00x--5 15 0