SourceCHICAGO (AP) -- Jose Contreras won his 13th straight decision dating to last season and Jim Thome hit a three-run homer in the first inning to lead the Chicago White Sox past the Seattle Mariners 4-1 Thursday.
Contreras (5-0) pitched effectively into the eighth, becoming the American League's first five-game winner. The first-place White Sox swept the two-game series and won their 10th consecutive home game, tying a franchise record. They have won 19 of 23 overall. Seattle has lost three straight.
Contreras got his 40th career win, giving up one run, four hits and three walks in 7 1-3 innings. He struck out four. The only run he allowed came in the sixth when he walked three, including Adrian Beltre with the bases loaded.
Neal Cotts got two outs in the eighth and Bobby Jenks worked the ninth for his ninth save in nine chances.
Felix Hernandez walked Scott Podsednik to start the game and gave up a single to Tadahito Iguchi. Thome hit a 2-1 fastball into the bullpen in right field for his 11th home run. Thome is the fastest White Sox player to reach 11 homers, doing it in 28 games. Frank Thomas did it in 31 games in 1994.
MVP- Bobby Livingston: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 K