Quentin's grand slam spoils Lackey's return as ChiSox roll Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Carlos Quentin did what he does every day -- checked the lineup card to see if he was playing. This time, he was batting third for the first time this season.

Quentin made White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen look smart when he broke an eighth-inning tie with his first career grand slam in Chicago's 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

He also matched his career high with five RBIs and helped spoil John Lackey's long-awaited return to the Angels' rotation.

A.J. Pierzynski hit second -- one of five players who batted in an unfamiliar slot for the first time this season. The others were Jim Thome (fifth), Paul Konerko (sixth) and Nick Swisher (eighth). Thome came in hitting .209, Konerko .213 and Swisher .206.

"You hit where you hit and you move on. I mean, you can't really try to overthink it," Pierzynski said. "The two hole is probably the highest I've ever hit. It's something different. Ozzie shook it up and it worked, so I'm sure we'll probably have the same one tomorrow."

Guillen started the same nine batters as he did in the first two games of this four-game series, but only leadoff man Orlando Cabrera and No. 9 hitter Juan Uribe stayed put in Wednesday's heavily shuffled lineup as Guillen tried to generate more offense.

"I wanted to try and take advantage of the guys who are swinging the bat well right now. That's the main thing," Guillen said. "I think the guys who aren't swinging the bats are pressing. Hopefully, shuffling the lineup will help and we'll get back to normal pretty soon and this lineup won't be this way for long. I want to get my regular lineup back to normal."

Jose Contreras (4-3) allowed a run and four hits in seven innings with three strikeouts and three walks. The right-hander, who held Seattle to one run over seven innings in a 4-2 victory last Friday, has won consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 19, 2007. Contreras won a franchise-record 17 consecutive decisions from Aug. 21, 2005 through July 4, 2006.

"I felt great. My forkball was excellent and I was throwing my fastball to both sides of the plate," Contreras said through a translator. "I felt under control with all my pitches pretty much the whole game."

Uribe led off the eighth with a single against Scot Shields (2-1), and took third when shortstop Erick Aybar went deep in the hole for Cabrera's infield single and threw the ball past first base for his sixth error. Shields walked Pierzynski with first base open, and Quentin drove a 2-0 fastball to left-center for his AL-leading 10th home run.

"We know he's a quality set-up man -- and with the stuff he has, he's almost considered like a closer," Quentin said. "He has a very good slider, so I was definitely aware of that. He came at me early in the count with fastballs and he missed. I was just thinking about keeping the ball up the middle, having a quality at-bat and at least make sure I get one in."

The home run was the second Shields allowed this season. The bullpen has surrendered 14, including the one Swisher hit against Jose Arredondo in the ninth inning on the right-hander's third pitch in the major leagues.

"You've just got to shake it off," Shields said. "Lackey pitched a pretty good game. For me to get out there, not get anybody out, and give up four runs, it hurts inside."

Lackey threw 99 pitches over seven innings, allowing a run and six hits while striking out four and walking one. The All-Star right-hander retired 14 of 15 batters during one stretch and allowed just two hits after Konerko's leadoff single in the second inning.

Konerko's bid for a possible tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh was caught on the warning track by seven-time Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter, who made an over-the-shoulder grab. Jermaine Dye was held up at third on Joe Crede's double to right-center, and Swisher flied out as Lackey let out an exuberant yell and punched the air with his fist.

"It was nice to be back. It's been a long road," Lackey said. "I felt pretty good early on. I was able to throw off-speed stuff for strikes, and that was a big key. My fastball is not all the way back. That's probably going to take a few games, but it was a good start."

Lackey, who had never been on the disabled list during his six previous major league seasons, was sidelined since March 21 because of a strained triceps. Last season he finished third in the AL Cy Young voting with a career-best 19-9 record and led the league with a 3.01 ERA.

Lackey gave up singles to his first three batters, including a run-scoring hit by Quentin. The Angels tied it in the fifth when Izturis drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced on Robb Quinlan's single and scored on Mike Napoli's sacrifice fly.

Game notes
Quentin's other 5-RBI game in the majors was on May 21, 2007 against Colorado while he was playing for Arizona. ... Swisher was 0-for-3 against Lackey and has just four hits in 37 career at-bats against him.