Thome’s 2 HRs lift White Sox over Angels
August 6, 2009
CHICAGO (AP)—Jim Thome’s(notes) bat is warming up just as the Chicago White Sox aregearing up for a run at the postseason.
The veteran slugger hit two homers Wednesday night, giving him 561 for hiscareer and helping right-hander Gavin Floyd(notes) and the White Sox beat the LosAngeles Angels 6-2.
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“You are going to have those up and down times when you find your swing oryour groove and you want it to last as long it can,” Thome said.“Unfortunately it doesn’t. But I try not to think about it too much, try tomaintain my work and do what I can every day to put myself in a situation duringthe game to have success.”
This is one of those times. Thome, who will be 39 at the end of this month,now has seven homers in his last 21 games. And he’s two shy of tying ReggieJackson for No. 12 on the career list.
“We got a lot of guys picking each other up and when one guy gets hot,hopefully you can ride that for a while,” Thome said after the White Sox’sfifth win in six games—all against first-place teams, the Angels and theYankees.
Floyd (9-6), who was aided by three double plays, allowed six hits and tworuns in eight-plus innings. His bid for a complete game ended in the ninth whenVladimir Guerrero(notes) and Juan Rivera(notes) had back-to-back singles and he was replacedby Matt Thornton(notes). Kendry Morales(notes) then hit a sacrifice fly for the Angels’ secondrun.
Floyd also pitched out of a jam in the eighth after a single by GaryMatthews Jr.(notes) and an error on Paul Konerko(notes)—the White Sox’s third miscue of thenight. Maicer Izturis(notes) was thrown out trying to bunt and Floyd struck out BobbyAbreu(notes) looking to end the threat.
“We hit some balls hard. I thought our at bats were OK. He just pitched agood game,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
“Three guys hit the ball right on the screws with guys on that turned intodouble plays.”
Floyd is now 5-0 in his last eight starts at U.S. Cellular Field, known ashitter-friendly park.
“I don’t pay attention to that. I don’t know. I can only say I try to keepit out of the air. This park is pretty notorious for the wind blowing out and,you know, balls carrying,” Floyd said. “You try to execute your pitches andwhatever happens, happens.”
Chicago White Sox's A.J. P… AP – Aug 5, 11:23 pm EDT
Thome hit a three-run shot to greet reliever Darren Oliver(notes) in the sixth—his second of the game and 20th of the season.
Thome’s drive into the left-center field bleachers came after Gordon Beckham(notes)doubled and Jermaine Dye(notes) singled to finish Angels starter Sean O’Sullivan(notes) (3-1).
Thome’s first homer, a solo shot to left, came off O’Sullivan and tied thegame at 1-1 in the fourth. Konerko hit a solo shot off Brian Fuentes(notes) in thebottom of the eighth, his 21st of the season.
“We got a couple of pitches in his zone and Jim didn’t miss them,”Scioscia said.
Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when A.J. Pierzynski(notes) doubled, hustledto third on a flyball and scored on Jayson Nix’s(notes) soft two-out single to right.
The Angels got their unearned run in the first with two outs when Abreusingled before Guerrero hit a line drive that went off the glove of Chicagoright fielder Dye and over his shoulder for a three-base error.
O’Sullivan, in his fourth stint with the Angels this season, had pitched ano-hitter for Triple-A Salt Lake on July 28, missing a perfect game againstSacramento by a seventh-inning walk.
He gave up six hits and was charged with four runs.
NOTES: Thome now has 44 multihomer games, including three this season. Heturns 39 on Aug. 27. … Angels outfielder Torii Hunter(notes) (15-day DL with astrained right adductor) had a “great workout” before the game Wednesday,according to Scioscia. However, Hunter subsqeuently failed a strength test andwill have to wait a few more days before testing his readiness for a rehabassignment. … White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez(notes) missed his sixth straight game witha sprained ankle but could return to the lineup Friday. Closer Bobby Jenks(notes) wassidelined with kidney stones.
