Chicago, IL -- (Sports Network) - Jermaine Dye finished with three hits and drove in three runs, as the White Sox defeated Cleveland, 5-1, in the middle test of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Alexei Ramirez and Scott Podsednik each scored twice for Chicago, which has won nine of its last 11 games. Jose Contreras (4-7) allowed six hits -- including a home run by Jhonny Peralta -- walked one and struck out a season- high nine batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.

"He's been doing a great job," Dye said when asked about Contreras. "He commands the strike zone and keeps hitters off balance."

Fresh off a stint on the disabled list, Aaron Laffey (3-2) gave up four runs and seven hits in his six-inning start. Laffey hadn't pitched since May 22 because of a strained right oblique muscle.

"Physically, I felt great and after the first three innings I was able to command the ball and do what I want to do with the ball," said Laffey. "Changeup was a good pitch for me today."

After Cleveland stranded two runners in the first, the White Sox grabbed an early lead in the home half. Ramirez had a one-out single and Dye doubled to the left-field corner. Ramirez, who was running on the pitch, scored easily.

Chicago pushed three more runs across in the third. Five straight White Sox reached after Josh Fields flied out to start the inning. Podsednik walked, Ramirez slapped a single to right and Dye hit a ball that eluded a diving Peralta at third to score Podsednik.

Paul Konerko, who became the 12th player in White Sox history to club at least three home runs in a game on Tuesday, hit a sharp grounder through the left side of the infield for a run-scoring single. Gordon Beckham launched a sacrifice fly two batters later for a 4-0 Chicago lead.

Peralta's home run to center broke up the shutout with one down in the seventh, and a tiring Contreras yielded consecutive singles to Travis Hafner and Ryan Garko before the veteran right-hander exited the game.

Matt Thornton entered from the bullpen and got pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The White Sox countered in the bottom of the seventh on Dye's broken-bat single that plated the speedy Podsednik.

Game Notes

Cleveland has lost 10 of its last 13 games...The White Sox have won five straight games versus the Tribe and are 7-4 overall this season against their division rival...Chicago signed its 2009 first-round draft pick, outfielder Jared Mitchell, to a minor league contract on Wednesday. He was the 23rd pick in the draft.