Showdown Series The Third, Stanza 1

Tigers 7, White Sox 1.

SOX STANDINGS: 73-51, .5 Ahead of the Twins in the Wild Card (6.5 Back of Detroit). Magic #: 39 and Holding.

F---. F---. F---, F---, F---.

Where's Jose's stuff when you need it? It took Contreras three and a half years to record his first complete game shutout in the majors, last Friday against this same Detroit squad. Since then he's looked like he has absolutely no clue what's going on. In back to back starts he's given up 7 earned runs and allowed his ERA to balloon over 4. Is nobody safe on the Sox pitching staff? It's tough to fault a lack of offensive production during these last two games when you consider the Sox faced off against Johan Santana and Justin Verlander on consecutive days, but it's still all about the pitching with this team. The starters give them a chance to win, they'll come out with a 'W' more often than not. The starters put them in a 7-1 hole, and it's tough to bounce back.