by Chris De Luca, The Chicago Sun-Times , Chicago Sun Times

And that's OK with manager Ozzie Guillen, who realizes his biggest midseason acquisition just might be the veteran pitcher who has no business doing the kinds of things he has done on the mound for the last month.

Jose Contreras -- whose ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last August was expected to keep him idle until now -- turned in another ace-like outing Wednesday, pitching the Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.

Contreras is 4-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts since being recalled from Class AAA Charlotte on June 8. Before his surprising demotion, Contreras was 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA in his first six starts -- the worst start of his career. For the second time in less than a year, talk turned to Contreras, 37, being done. Then after less than a month at Charlotte, Contreras got back on track.

''It's like making a big trade,'' Guillen said. ''It's a big trade for us after all that stuff happened [with Contreras]. He came on when we most needed it.

''Since he got back from the minors, he has been a big help. He has been huge.... he and [backup catcher Ramon] Castro, the combination ... has done really well.''

Castro has caught each of Contreras' six starts since his return. In all those starts, Contreras said he has shaken him off only twice -- and each of those resulted in a home run.

Contreras struck out a season-high nine batters Wednesday, giving him 25 strikeouts in his last three outings -- his most over a three-start stretch since June 2006.

''I'm very happy because all the work is starting to pay off,'' said Contreras, who improved to 4-7 with a 4.54 ERA overall. ''Everyone knew I'd come back. But I didn't think I'd come back this strong or pitch the way I've been pitching. But I'm glad it's been working out, and that means the work has been paying off, so I'll keep doing it.''

With lefties John Danks and Mark Buehrle, plus right-hander Gavin Floyd showing more consistency over the last month, Guillen said he is feeling much better about his rotation. If left-hander Clayton Richard can show some consistency, Guillen said there will be no need for more talk of acquiring an ace.

''If we have a little more consistency from Richard, I am really happy with what I have,'' he said.

With Contreras continuing to dominate, the Sox won for the ninth time in 11 games. The top of the lineup, paced by Jermaine Dye's three RBI, did the heavy lifting without relying on a home run -- just the eighth time this season they have won without using a homer.

Guillen knows he has enough firepower to contend. It's all up to his pitching staff.

The bullpen figures to improve with the addition of right-hander Tony Pena. Though his numbers aren't all that impressive (5-3, 4.24 ERA in 37 appearance for Arizona), Pena should ease pressure on the rest of the relievers, especially righty middle reliever D.J. Carrasco.

''I think he will help us,'' Guillen said of Pena, who joined the Sox before the game. ''Now we can use Carrasco, then Pena, then the rest of the guys and make it easier because we need an arm we can count on and to hold those guys for the seventh, eighth and ninth. We set up from the seventh to the ninth. Most of the time I got to use a guy for more than one inning or overuse him because I don't have the right men to cover up those innings, and that's the reason we bring him here.''

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THE RECAP

AT THE PLATE

No. 3 hitter Jermaine Dye went 3-for-4 with a double and knocked in three runs. No. 2 hitter Alexei Ramirez went

2-for-4 and scored two runs. And No. 1 hitter Scott Podsednik went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored two runs.

ON THE MOUND

Jose Contreras held the Indians to one run and six hits in 6? innings, walking one and striking out a season-high nine.

PIVOTAL POINT

In the seventh, Contreras allowed a one-out solo home run to Jhonny Peralta, then issued singles to Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko. With the Sox up 4-1, Ozzie Guillen summoned lefty Matt Thornton, who got righty-swinging pinch hitter Jamey Carroll to ground into an inning-ending double play.

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