Contreras out as starter

Jose Contreras likely has made his last start for the White Sox after his meltdown Monday against the Red Sox.

Contreras bobbled a ground ball that should have marked the final out of the third inning with the White Sox ahead, 4-1. The error offered new life for the Red Sox, who pelted Contreras for six unearned runs before the inning was over.

The Red Sox held on for a 12-8 win, and Sox manager Ozzie Guillen searched for answers afterward. His comments were published on the team's media Web site.

"Jose's going to be in the bullpen," Guillen told reporters. "I don't know who starts in his spot. We're in the position right now, we cannot continue to handle guys and hope they get it done. I think enough is enough."

Contreras, who is in the final year of his contract, dropped to 5-12 with a 5.09 ERA. He is 55-55 in six seasons on the South Side, and he went 3-1 in four postseason starts in 2005.

"I feel for him," Guillen said. "But our job is to win games. It's not to do people a favor. We cannot handle this anymore. It gets to the point like, 'What's going to happen next?' And we don't have too much next. Somebody will take his spot, and we'll see who it's going to be."

One option is Jake Peavy, who pitched five scoreless innings Monday in his third injury rehabilitation start for Triple-A Charlotte. Peavy threw 52 of his 80 pitches for strikes, allowing four hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Contreras' scheduled turn in the rotation comes up Saturday at New York.

-Tom Musick