Sox squared

Curt Schilling takes the ball for the Red Sox today as they try to sweep Chicago and hand Jose Contreras his first loss of the season.

Contreras (9-0, 3.31) hasn't lost a regular-season game since August 15 against Minnesota. Schilling (10-3, 3.63) is coming off a loss to Tampa Bay.

David Ortiz is red hot as the break approaches. He hit his major-league leading 31st home run of the season Saturday in a 9-6 win. He also leads the majors in RBIs, with 86.

This is the Sox's last game before the All-Star break. They're sending three players to Pittsburgh -- Ortiz, Mark Loretta and Jonathan Papelbon. Manny Ramirez will not play because of an injured right knee.

From the What Year is This Department, Nomar Garciaparra of the Dodgers was voted onto the NL All-Star team in the final round of fan voting. Nomah is batting .360, with 11 homers and 54 RBIs for the West Coast Red Sox.

Looking beyond the break, the Sox are home for four games against Oakland, starting Thursday. They follow that with three against Kansas City and one against Texas before heading to the West Coast.