Thome doesn't homer, but White Sox win
Jim Thome had to wait at least one more day to enter the 500 home-run club.
Thome went 0-for-4 Friday night as the White Sox beat Bartolo Colon and the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Thome hit No. 499 on Wednesday against his former team, Cleveland. He struck out in the first against Colon (6-7), got robbed of a hit in the third when first baseman Casey Kotchman made a diving stop of his grounder and struck out again the fourth. Against reliever Ervin Santana in the sixth, he popped out on a 3-0 pitch.
Sidelined about seven weeks with an irritated right elbow, Colon was shaky and had little help from his teammates. He lasted 4 2-3 innings in his first start since July 23, allowing five runs - three earned - and eight hits while striking out four and walking two. He is 0-5 in his last seven starts, and has not won since beating Cincinnati on June 14.
Jose Contreras (9-16) scattered 11 hits over 7 1-3 innings but held the AL West leaders to three runs. He improved 3-0 in his last four starts after losing nine starts in a row.
Maicer Izturis' RBI single put the Angels ahead in the first, but the White Sox took a 4-1 lead in the third. After Jermaine Dye hit a two-run, broken-bat single, and A.J. Pierzynski hit a grounder toward third. Izturis bounced his throw to first, and Kotchman threw wildly trying to get Dye at home.
Juan Uribe chased Colon with a run-scoring single in the fifth.
Howie Kendrick's RBI single in the sixth and Kendry Morales' pinch-double against Ehren Wassermann cut the gap in the eighth. Bobby Jenks worked the ninth for his 38th save in 44 chances.
Notes: Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero (inflamed right triceps) was relegated to DH duties for a fourth straight game, but manager Mike Scioscia hopes to have his slugger back in right field within the next few days. ... RHP Justin Speier said he has a strained ligament in his right knee, which explains the pain he's been experiencing. ... Chicago's Andy Gonzalez ended on 0-for-23 slide with a single in the fourth.