SEATTLE (AP) – Jose Contreras pitched into the eighth inning and Jermaine Dye hit a two-run homer, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Saturday night.

The AL Central-leading White Sox won their fourth in a row and beat the last-place Mariners for the sixth time in eight games this season. The Mariners fell to a season-worst 20 games under .500.

Contreras (9-7) won his second straight start and has won four of his last five decisions. Making his first career start against the Mariners, Contreras took a one-hit shutout into the seventh, when the Mariners scored twice.

Seattle scored again and nearly tied it in the eighth, but Ichiro Suzuki was thrown out at the plate on Richie Sexson’s double. Right fielder Dye threw to second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, who threw to catcher A.J. Pierzynski to just get Suzuki, who had walked.

Contreras gave up three runs and five hits in seven-plus innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts. The White Sox took him out after he gave up a single to Jamal Strong to lead off the Seattle eighth.

With closer Dustin Hermanson unavailable because of a sore lower back, Damaso Marte got Yuniesky Betancourt to hit into a double play with two men on in the ninth for his fourth save.

Dye tied his career high in hits by going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a single along with his 23rd homer. He gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead in the second with his drive into Seattle’s bullpen in left field after a single by Pierzynski. It came off Joel Pineiro (5-9).

Dye also had two stolen bases, his ninth and 10th of the season to give him a career high.

Juan Uribe had an RBI single in the fourth for the White Sox’s third run. Carl Everett hit his 20th homer in the seventh off Matt Thornton to put Chicago ahead 4-0.

Greg Dobbs spoiled Contreras’ shutout bid in the seventh with a two-run single.

Pineiro went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, with three strikeouts.

Notes: Dye had four hits in a game for the eighth time in his career. His two stolen bases, both in the eighth inning, were the first time in his career that he’s had two stolen bases in a game. He has nine hits in his last 15 at-bats. … The White Sox’s Timo Perez hit into a rare fielder’s choice in the fourth when right fielder Suzuki threw out Uribe at second. Perez’s line drive fell in front of Suzuki with Geoff Blum at second and Uribe at first. … Pineiro has an 8.49 ERA in his last two starts, both losses. … Suzuki was 0-for-3, with a walk, dropping his batting average to .298, his lowest since July 1, when he was hitting .298.

AP-ES-08-28-05 0107EDT


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