Thome inches closer to 500
At the rate he's going, Jim Thome might hit his 500th career home run early this week when the first-place Cleveland Indians are at U.S. Cellular Field.
How would that feel?
"I think you know the answer,'' Thome said after helping the White Sox rally to an 8-7 victory over the Twins on Saturday in another sloppy game at U.S. Cellular Field.
Thome spent the first 12 years of his career with Cleveland, and his 334 home runs are the most in club history.
But the last two years, when he has been with the White Sox, Thome has been booed viciously when he has returned to Jacobs Field.
"I wish he could do it (500th home run) in Cleveland, the way people treat him there,'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Actually, Guillen is hoping Thome launches the milestone home run on the South Side. The White Sox have seven more games on this homestand before hitting the road for four games at Kansas City and three more at Minnesota.
"Hopefully he does it here,'' Guillen said. "If not, I'm going to bench him for a week.''
Guillen, apparently, was joking. But he was showing some serious admiration for Thome after the 37-year-old designated hitter hit his 497th career home run, a solo shot to deep center field in the first inning Saturday.
"Everybody's rooting for him,'' Guillen said. "It's nice, the way the season's going, to see something positive.''
Thome homered for the second straight game against Minnesota. He said the pressure on hitting the historic homer is starting to build.
"When I got to about (490), you get more phone calls,'' said Thome, who has 25 homers on the season. "They mention it, talk about it. Your family talks about it.''
Thome always turns the subject toward the team, but the personal achievement is difficult to ignore.
"It's a fun thing,'' he said. "It's something to enjoy. It's something I've tried not to get caught up in, but it's hard because I'm getting close.''
The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run Aug. 4. Former White Sox star Frank Thomas -- now with the Toronto Blue Jays -- hit his 500th on June 28.
Thome is close to making it a home run trifecta.
"I'm happy for Jim,'' Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He's such a great guy and he's had a great career. I don't care what anybody says, if you hit 500 home runs you should be in the Hall of Fame right away.''
The White Sox rallied for their second straight win over the Twins. On Friday, they were trailing 10-4 in the ninth. After coming up with 6 runs in the bottom of the inning, the Sox won 11-10 in 13.
On Saturday, they were trailing 7-5 in the seventh inning when Pierzynski hit a 2-run pinch home run and Thome singled to score Jerry Owens with the deciding run.
White Sox 8, Twins 7
At the plate: Jim Thome hit his 497th career home run, a solo shot in the first inning. Juan Uribe matched his career high with 4 hits. Paul Konerko was 2-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI.
On the mound: Mike Myers pitched 2 scoreless innings to get the win. Starter Jose Contreras allowed 7 runs (4 earned) on 13 hits over 5 innings.
-- Scot Gregor