White Sox 3, Orioles 1: The Good, Bad, and Indifferent

Box Score

Good

Jose Contreras

After really struggling with his control in his first two starts, Contreras was very, very good today. He got in a rhythm and threw strikes, going seven innings, allowing one earned run, giving up four hits, and striking out six all while walking none.

That's a rarity recently for Contreras—no walks—but the way he pitched today was reminiscent of 2005-05 Contreras. It remains to be seen whether Contreras can be consistent, but today was a step in the right direction.

Jim Thome

Thome's performance may have been more surprising than Contreras'. After scuffling against lefties and being close to being moved down in the lineup, Thome came out in the first inning and nailed a three-run home run off Orioles lefty Adam Loewen. 

Thome also picked up a double off Loewen and, on the whole, hit the ball hard today. Like Contreras, it remains to be seen if he can stay consistent at the plate, but this was a step in the right direction as well.

Scott Linebrink

Linebrink came back after allowing a run on Tuesday and shut down the Orioles in the eighth inning. Once again, the White Sox bullpen had no problem bridging the gap from starter to reliever, and Linebrink has been a huge part of that.

Bobby Jenks

Jenks shut the Orioles down in the ninth to convert his sixth save in as many chances this year. Honestly, if the bullpen keeps pitching like they have from top to bottom, the White Sox may have one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Although, that was being said about the White Sox bullpen at this time last year, so you never know. 

Bad

Nothing here. I'd have to really cherry-pick to find something bad about this game. 

Indifferent

The offense—Loewen was shaky at best in his six innings of work, but the White Sox were unable to take advantage of that outside of Thome's three-run homer. 

If the Sox were to have lost this game, the offense would have landed in the "bad" category, but a win's a win, so the offense ends up here.