• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Thomas Hits 400th Homer As White Sox Win

Posted on: Saturday, 26 July 2003, 06:00 CDT

Frank Thomas had his eye on his next milestone. Rocco Baldelli was just looking for a shower and a clean shirt.

Thomas hit his 400th career home run and the White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-2 Friday night in a game briefly delayed by more unruly fan behavior in Chicago.

Baldelli, Tampa Bay's rookie center fielder, was doused with beer by a fan sitting in the bleachers after chasing down Carl Everett's fifth-inning double.

"I don't know how they threw it so far," Baldelli said. "It hit me square in the back and the side of my head."

The game was delayed for about three minutes while Baldelli and left fielder Carl Crawford called over to third-base umpire Mike DiMuro to tell him what happened.

Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella joined the discussion along with a security guard. Baldelli pointed out the person he thought threw the beer, and it appeared the fan was led away by security.

There have been two on-field attacks at U.S. Cellular Field in the past year. Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa was attacked by a father and son during a game last September, and a fan tried to tackle umpire Laz Diaz at the same ballpark in April.

Baldelli's beer shower wasn't nearly as dangerous - just sticky.

"I didn't change my uniform," Baldelli said. "Everybody was telling me I should, but I can play with a little beer on my shirt."

In other AL games, it was: New York 4, Boston 3; Toronto 5, Baltimore 3; Minnesota 6, Cleveland 5; Kansas City 8, Detroit 3; Seattle 11, Texas 5; and Oakland 3, Anaheim 2.

Thomas became the 36th player in major league history to reach 400 homers - and the second this week. Houston's Jeff Bagwell did it Sunday.

"I'm very proud of it, but the goal for me is 500," Thomas said. "It was great just to do it at home."

Carlos Lee also homered and Esteban Loaiza (13-5) allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings for the White Sox, who have won eight straight. It's their longest streak since winning nine in a row July 1-9, 1977.

Chicago (53-50) is three games above .500 for the first time since April 27.

Jorge Sosa (3-8) took the loss.

Yankees 4, Red Sox 3

At Boston, Derek Jeter's sacrifice fly off Byung-Hyun Kim (3-3) in the ninth inning put New York 3 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East.

Mariano Rivera (5-0) allowed Jason Varitek's tying single in the eighth but escaped a jam in the ninth to seal the win.

The Yankees took a 3-2 lead on Bernie Williams' RBI single off Pedro Martinez in the seventh.

Martinez threw 128 pitches - his most since May 1, 2001, when he threw 136 in eight innings against Seattle. The Boston ace gave up seven hits and struck out 10 in 6 2-3 innings.

Royals 8, Tigers 3

At Detroit, Aaron Guiel hit a three-run homer and Runelvys Hernandez (5-3) won for the first time in more than three months.

The Tigers have lost seven of eight overall and are 1-9 against the AL Central-leading Royals this season.

Twins 6, Indians 5

At Cleveland, Doug Mientkiewicz hit a tiebreaking double off Danys Baez (0-7) with two outs in the ninth inning.

Mientkiewicz had two doubles and two RBIs, and LaTroy Hawkins (8-2) got two outs in the eighth for the win.

Eddie Guardado pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two for his 24th save.

Rookie Ryan Ludwick homered for Cleveland, which blew a 4-0 lead and has lost nine of 10.

Blue Jays 5, Orioles 3

At Toronto, Cory Lidle (11-8) won for the first time in more than a month and Carlos Delgado drove in four runs for the Blue Jays, including his AL-leading 29th homer.

Delgado's three-run shot off Jason Johnson (8-5) was his first homer in 72 at-bats since July 2 - his longest drought this season. The All-Star first baseman leads the majors with 103 RBIs and is the first Toronto player to have 100 RBIs in six straight seasons.

Trever Miller struck out all four batters he faced for his second save.

Mariners 11, Rangers 5

At Seattle, Mike Cameron, Ichiro Suzuki and Bret Boone homered in a six-run fourth inning.

Boone drove in four runs with a pair of two-run homers for the AL West-leading Mariners.

Texas' Rafael Palmeiro hit his 512th home run to move past Mel Ott into a tie for 14th place on the career list with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews.

Jamie Moyer (13-5) won his third straight decision after losing three consecutive starts. Rafael Soriano pitched four scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

Athletics 3, Angels 2

At Anaheim, Calif., Miguel Tejada hit a tying double and Ramon Hernandez had a go-ahead single in the eighth for Oakland.

Ted Lilly (6-8) pitched seven strong innings for his first victory in five starts. Billy McMillon homered in the ninth.

Keith Foulke got his 26th save in 30 attempts, allowing a homer to pinch-hitter Adam Kennedy. Brendan Donnelly (0-1) was the loser.

More News in this Category