The Closer: Jose Contreras Will Rock Your World

Notes from a day in baseball:

• 1. We're Not Worthy! The Chicago Tribune called him the best pitcher in baseball, and while we love disagreeing with the Chicago Tribune, this time we'll have to stand down. Grrr. Jose Contreras, who keeps his splitter and slider like trained pets, won his 15th straight decision on Monday as the White Sox beat the Rangers 8-3. Think the U.S. soccer team had a bad day? Consider the Rangers, who had to know it was futile after Contreras (7-0) retired the first 10 batters in a row; five by strikeout. He finished with 11 Ks, threw 75 of his 108 pitches for strikes over eight innings, and hasn't lost in the regular season since Aug. 15, 2005.

• 2. Brian Fuentes; For Fast, Effective Relief. In danger of blowing a save for the second straight game — after having not done so since April 28 — Brian Fuentes pitched out of a jam in the ninth as the Rockies beat the Nationals 4-3. It was Fuentes' 14th save of the season.

• 3. Get Your Motor Runnin'. The Tigers seem to be back — if beating the Devil Rays by a run counts (we think it does) — as Curtis Granderson's run-scoring single scored Brandon Inge in the 13th inning to give Detroit a 4-3 win. The Tigers have won three straight and are 41-23 overall, the best record in the majors. Granderson was 4-for-6 with two RBI.

• 4. Royals Lose Again (Laugh Track). Meanwhile, the Royals are fiercly protecting the worst record in the majors, losing to the Angels 4-3 to drop to 16-46. Dallas McPherson had three hits and two RBI for the Angels.

• 5. Blue Jay, Don't Bother Me. Kris Benson OWNS the Blue Jays. There, we said said it. Benson (7-5) beat Toronto for the third time this season and Ramon Hernandez homered to lead the Orioles to a 6-4 win.