Jose Contreras picked up his first victory of the 2009 season last night.

The veteran hurler probably did not expect win No. 1 to be coming in Scranton, while pitching for Triple-A Charlotte. But it’s a step in the right direction for the right-hander, who struck out five, walked five and gave up three hits over six scoreless innings.

Contreras is one of the true good guys in the game, and while our job is to be impartial and report the news, you have to root for someone such as Contreras who fought so hard to come back from his ruptured left Achilles suffered last August. His return also will be a much-needed boost for the White Sox rotation, moving forward with an eye on the American League Central title.

Judging by just 57 of his 108 pitches going for strikes, Contreras still has some work to do. But Contreras made the request to go to Charlotte to pitch regularly and figure out what has been wrong to start the season. Basically, he has to harness control of his split-finger.

As for Brian Anderson, on a brief injury rehab for a strained right oblique, he finished 2-for-4 with a triple during the Knights’ 2-0 victory. I expect Anderson back with the team in Toronto this weekend, and at the very latest, when the White Sox return to Chicago this Tuesday.