NewYork.Yankees.MLB.com

By Mark Feinsand and Jeff Wallner / MLB.com

Jose Contreras allowed three earned runs on seven hits in his start for the Clippers on Tuesday. (Jay LaPrete/MLB.com)

Contreras allowed three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings of work against the Norfolk Tides, earning the win in Columbus' 4-3 victory at Cooper Stadium. The start was his first since being sent down by the Yankees last Wednesday.

"I'm happy with my outing," said Contreras through an interpreter. "[If] I can throw seven innings and only give up three runs like I did today, I'm going to be very successful."

"It's certainly a step in the right direction," said general manager Brian Cashman. "He had good velocity, was aggressive and had good control. He maintained his delivery through out the entire game, which was a good sign."

Contreras was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday, after he allowed seven runs over two innings at Oakland last Tuesday. With his ERA ballooning to 9.47 after five starts, Contreras was optioned to Single-A Tampa to work with Billy Connors, the Yankees' vice president of player personnel and organizational pitching guru.

Cashman spoke with Connors and Gordon Blakeley, the Yankees' Senior vice president of player personnel, getting a full report on Contreras' outing.

"He had 108 pitches, but he needs the work," said Connors, who worked with the right-hander on his mechanics. "He's a horse. I was very pleased with his slider. He's got great stuff. He should be the best pitcher in the Major Leagues. He just needs to get himself right mentally."

Contreras, who walked 14 batters in 19 innings pitched with the Yankees this season, walked only one batter Tuesday but fell behind consistently. Still, the Tides managed only two baserunners in the first three innings.

"He only walked one batter, which is a plus," Connors said. "He was in command enough to win today. We know he can help [the Yankees]."

The Yankees have not decided on a starter for Saturday, but Cashman hinted that he would like to see Contreras have some more success at Columbus before returning to New York.

"I'd like to see him put together a string of successful performances," Cashman said. "It was a successful start, but is he where he needs to be? I can't say that."

Yankees manager Joe Torre said that while "anything is possible," he indicated that he would like to see Contreras make another start in the minors.

"Billy gave him very high marks. He said he threw the ball, his velocity was good and he threw a lot of sliders. They made some strides," Torre said. "Now, we have to figure out if we want him to do this again or if we're ready for him. My guess would be that we want to make sure, which would mean another start."

Contreras allowed one hit, walked one batter and threw two wild pitches in the fourth inning, but struck out three batters to escape the frame without allowing a run. Things unraveled quickly, however, for Contreras in the fifth inning, just as he had eclipsed the 70-pitch mark.

Norfolk third baseman Rodney Nye led off the inning with a ringing double to left on a Contreras pitch that registered 80 mph on the radar gun. One batter later, Tides second baseman Chris Basak connected on a 2-0 pitch from Contreras and deposited the ball well beyond the left-field fence for a two-run home run.

Nye added a solo home run off Contreras with one out in the seventh inning.

"It doesn't matter what league you're in, you can't pitch up in the zone," Contreras said. "It doesn't matter if you throw 100 mph or have a great breaking ball, if you leave it up you're going to pay for it."

Clippers manager Bucky Dent was pleased with Contreras' performance, but indicated that he wasn't ready to make the jump back to the Majors.

"Overall, I think he did a good job," Dent said. "He's going to have to keep working down here. He threw some good fastballs and some good [split-fingers]. He made a couple of mistakes, but that's what he's here to work on."

Contreras, who went 7-2 with a 3.30 ERA in his rookie season of 2003, felt that he took a big step on Tuesday.

"I had too much stuff in my head," said Contreras of his struggles in the big leagues. "If it was my decision, I would have one more start here and be ready."

Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. Jeff Wallner is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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