Cintron Boosts White Sox Again

Alex Cintron is playing because Juan Uribe is waiting. And for two straight games, he has delivered game-winning hits for the Chicago White Sox.

Cintron followed up his three-run, go-ahead home run Tuesday with a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning Wednesday as the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 4-3, at Chicago to move within a half game of Detroit atop the Central Division.

“I don’t feel like a hero. I think everybody did their job,” Cintron said.

Cintron has found himself in the lineup at shortstop for two games in a row because Uribe is with his expectant wife.

“We need him here. I’m taking advantage of the opportunity,” Cintron said. “If they tell me to play tomorrow, I’ll be ready to play.”

Jose Contreras (6-0) won his 14th straight regular-season decision dating back to last season and picked up his first victory since coming off the disabled list May 21. He pitched seven innings, giving up three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits. Contreras is 14-0 in his last 18 regular-season starts and hasn’t lost since Aug. 15 of last season.

“You start thinking about something so big, you’re not going to accomplish your goals,” Contreras said of his long streak of success.

Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Joe Crede, who made two errors on the same play to allow the Tigers to tie the game in the top of the seventh, opened the bottom half with a single to finish Justin Verlander (7-4).

Rob Mackowiak sacrificed against reliever Jamie Walker to send Crede to second. Cintron then lined a single to left, third base coach Joey Cora waved Crede home and he made it easily when left fielder Alexis Gomez fumbled the ball.

Gomez was in left because starter Craig Monroe had to leave the game in the third inning when he sprained his ankle hitting the wall while attempting a leaping catch of Scott Podsednik’s triple.

Jim Thome hit his league-leading 21st home run for the White Sox and Jermaine Dye hit his 18th for the defending World Series champions.

Verlander, with some of his pitches clocked in the high 90s, gave up seven hits and four runs in six innings plus.

Cleveland 11, Oakland 2 -- Paul Byrd won for the first time in more than a month, Victor Martinez had four RBIs and Aaron Boone hit a three-run homer for the Indians at Cleveland.

Byrd (5-4) gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings while picking up his first victory since beating the A’s on May 3.

Boone connected off Joe Blanton (5-6) in the second, and Grady Sizemore hit a solo shot two pitches later for the up-and-down Indians, who have gotten to .500 seven times in the last 17 games only to fall back on five occasions.

Toronto 5, Baltimore 3 -- Rookie Casey Janssen gave up one run in six innings to earn his fourth straight win, Vernon Wells had four hits, and the Blue Jays beat Kris Benson and the Orioles at Baltimore.

The Blue Jays scored two runs off Benson (6-5) with the aid of wild pitches, then added two unearned runs in the seventh against Todd Williams before Wells doubled in a ninth-inning run.

Janssen (5-3) is 4-0 in his last five starts.

Texas 4, Kansas City 2 -- Gary Matthews’ two-run double capped a four-run ninth inning and lifted the Rangers over the Royals at Kansas City, Mo.

Rookie Bobby Keppel, looking for his first major league win, carried a six-hit shutout into the ninth for Kansas City but was relieved by Ambiorix Burgos (1-3) after Hank Blalock’s leadoff single.

Akinori Otsuka (2-1) went two innings for the win and Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Seattle 10, Minnesota 9 -- Carl Everett hit a home run in the bottom of the 11th inning at Seattle to give the Mariners their sixth victory in seven games.

Before the home run, Everett had been two for 20 on Seattle’s homestand.

Boston at New York, ppd. -- The game between the Red Sox and Yankees was postponed because of rain at New York. No makeup date was announced, though it will likely be rescheduled as part of a doubleheader during Boston’s final trip to Yankee Stadium from Sept. 15-17.