Thome milestone proving elusive
Fireworks lit up the skies over U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday night, but Jim Thome didn't spark the fuse.
After going 0-for-3 with a walk in the White Sox' 2-1 loss to the Angels, Thome is still stuck on 499 home runs.
The announced crowd of 33,254 had to settle for the usual Saturday postgame fireworks, and Thome has one more crack at reaching the 500 milestone at home this afternoon before the Sox embark on their final road trip of the season.
Nothing has come easy for the Sox this season, and that includes Thome's run at history. The Sox' 36-year-old designated hitter is 0-for-7 with a walk against Los Angeles in the first two games of the series.
"They have a very good pitching staff,'' Thome said. "(Angels starter Jered) Weaver pitched a very good game, and their bullpen has done a terrific job all year.''
After drawing a walk off Weaver in the first inning, Thome struck out in the third, popped out in the sixth and struck out against Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth.
Flash bulbs were present on every pitch, but Thome said it's not a distraction.
"You get locked into your at-bats,'' he said. "I'm not paying attention to the flash bulbs at all.''
While again stressing that winning is the No. 1 goal, Thome said he understands all the attention.
"I know it is the focus,'' said Thome, who last homered against Cleveland on Wednesday. "It'll happen. It'll happen eventually. It's not easy to hit a home run when everybody wants you to.''
With "20-25 family members'' in the crowd Saturday, Thome never came close to hitting the milestone home run.
"He doesn't seem any different at the plate,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "I hope he gets it (today). There is a lot of excitement at the ballpark, and we're all rooting for him.''
If Thome fails to go deep today, he likely will hit his 500th home run during the seven-game trip to Kansas City and Minnesota.
"It's exciting for the fans, and they deserve it,'' he said. "They've been so great. Hopefully I can do it here. It sure would be nice to do it at home.''
After beating the Angels on Friday, the Sox had a chance to make it two in a row over the AL West leaders. But with the game tied at 1-1 in the fourth, Howie Kendrick led off with a routine groundball to Sox third baseman Andy Gonzalez.
A wild throw left Kendrick on second base, and he scored the deciding run on Reggie Willits' one-out single.
Jon Garland took the loss, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) over 7 innings.
"One thing we've seen from out starting rotation is they've been better and better,'' Guillen said. "It's a little too late, but they've been better.''
The Sox scored their run in the third inning. After Danny Richar led off with a double, Jerry Owens delivered an RBI single with one out.
Angels 2, White Sox 1
At the plate: Jim Thome was 0-for-3 with a walk. He will try again to hit his 500th home run today. Jerry Owens was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
In the field: Left fielder Scott Podsednik threw out Casey Kotchman at home plate in the second inning, and shortstop Juan Uribe cut down Jeff Mathis in the eighth.
-- Scot Gregor