Dye, Pierzynski each have RBI single

DENVER (AP) -- The Chicago White Sox have plenty of faith in Jose Contreras.

"Jose has always had a good arm and always believed in his pitches," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "And as long as he throws strikes with them, he'll give us a chance to win games."

Contreras gave Chicago six innings of pinpoint control and Jermaine Dye and A.J. Pierzynski each had an RBI single to lead the White Sox past the Colorado Rockies 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Contreras allowed five hits and earned his third win in 12 starts, helping Chicago improve its major league-leading record to 39-19. The White Sox have won five of six and are 20 games over .500 for the first time since they ended the 2000 season 95-67,

according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"This year has been a very good year. I have had more and more control in the game every time I pitch," Contreras said through a translator.

Neal Cotts struck out four in two hitless innings, and Dustin Hermanson worked a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 14 chances.

Contreras (3-2) struck out six, walked two and lowered his ERA to 3.13. He credited a minor adjustment with his forkball for helping him deal with Coors Field.

"Right before the game started my forkball wasn't dropping and I was worried about that," Contreras said. "Once I got in the game I got more relaxed and my forkball and my slider both were there for strikes."

Making his third emergency start of the year, Byung-Hyun Kim (0-5) allowed only three hits, all in the fourth inning, and two runs. Kim retired Chicago in order in four of the six innings he worked but remained winless in his last 20 appearances since Oct. 2.

"I'd rather start than come from the bullpen," Kim said. "I don't feel comfortable having to wait to be part of the game."

After Kim fanned Aaron Rowand to start the fourth, the White Sox scored two runs on three straight hits. Paul Konerko doubled to center, and Dye blooped an RBI single and stole second. He scored when Pierzynski slapped a single to center.

Garrett Atkins nearly tied the game in the Colorado fourth when his fly ball with two outs hit the top of the wall in right-center and bounced back into play. Acting manager Jamie Quirk came out briefly to dispute the call with second base umpire Ed Montague.

"I had to go out and ask them to talk about it among the umpires," Quirk said. "They got the call right. It wasn't a home run."

Atkins settled for a double that drove in Preston Wilson, who opened the inning with a single.

The Rockies challenged Contreras only once more, in the fifth when Desi Relaford reached second base on an infield single and Konerko's throwing error. But Contreras retired his next three batters, two on strikeouts.

"We couldn't get anything done against him," Luis Gonzalez

said.Game notes
Konerko doubled in the fourth for his 1,000 hit. ... Chicago bench coach Harold Baines was not hurt after being a hit by a line drive during batting practice. ... Konerko tried to retire Relaford in the fifth by throwing his glove with the ball it. Both got past Contreras covering first base. ... Rowand has a 12-game hitting streak. ... Colorado's Danny Ardoin

got his first career stolen base. ... Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes had successful surgery. A plate was inserted to repair his broken left collarbone after he fell while carrying groceries up his apartment stairs. He will be sidelined at least 12 weeks.