BALTIMORE (AP) - Three starts, three losses. Not exactly the results the Chicago White Sox expected from Jose Contreras at the outset of the season.
The right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and six walks over 5 1-3 innings Tuesday night in a 10-3 loss to Baltimore. That left Contreras with an 0-3 record and an 8.04 ERA.White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen isn't happy with the numbers, but isn't quite ready to pull the 37-year-old Contreras from the starting rotation.
"Not right now. It's kind of early," Guillen said Wednesday. "Even though the results aren't the ones we like lately, you have to be careful to not hurry into a decision based on your feelings, because it might be the wrong one."
Contreras has yielded 14 earned runs, 19 hits and 11 walks in 15 2-3 innings.
"I am going to continue to work until I get it right," Contreras said through an interpreter Tuesday.
Contreras spent two months on the disabled list last year and started just 20 games. But Guillen didn't think the pitcher's health was the problem.
"It's not his velocity. ... It doesn't look like he has the confidence now to let the ball go," Guillen said.
Chicago pitching coach Don Cooper said, "We've got to get (his confidence) back. That's our focus," Cooper said. "He's frustrated. Everyone wants better results."
