Thome hits 2 homers as White Sox beat Indians 7-4
Entering Tuesday night's game at Cleveland mired in a 3-for-22 slump, White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome didn't have his head down when he went to the plate.
"I'm a big believer in positive thinking," Thome said. "But when you are going bad, it's hard. That's what makes this game so hard and that's why you have to be tough mentally."
Thome was tough on the Indians, hitting a pair of 2-run homers and drawing a pair of walks to lift the Sox to a 7-4 win.
With left fielder Carlos Quentin scratched from the game with a sore left heel, Thome helped pick up the offensive slack.
"He's working so hard, he believes in himself and he trusts himself," manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters after Thome raised his home run total to 6 and his RBI total to 18. "That's why he comes out (of slumps) quicker than other ones. This guy just keeps working hard and he's going to come out."
Thome's first-inning homer to center field off Indians starter Jeremy Sowers (0-2) followed a walk to Jermaine Dye and gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead.
His home run in the fifth came after Dye's double, putting the White Sox in front for good at 5-4.
"Every time he hits, they're important ones," Guillen said.
Filling in for demoted starter Jose Contreras, Clayton Richard pitched 31/3 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks.
Thome bailed out the offense, and D.J. Carrasco did the same with the pitching staff. The right-handed reliever followed Richard with 2 scoreless innings, and Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel and Bobby Jenks also pitched scoreless relief.
"Carrasco's been pitching great," Guillen said. "Carrasco and (Lance) Broadway, those two kids help us to keep the bullpen in place. They keep everybody fresh."
Cleveland's Matt LaPorta led off the fourth inning with a single off Richard, and the lefty was gone after Grady Sizemore's one-out single.
Carrasco allowed an RBI double to Asdrubal Cabrera, but after intentional walking Victor Martinez to load the bases, he struck out Mark DeRosa and Shin-Soo Choo.
Reserve catcher Corky Miller gave the Sox some breathing room with a 2-run single in the seventh inning.
Gregor's game tracker
Tuesday's grade: B. Jim Thome busted out of a slump with a pair of 2-run homers, and the bullpen bailed out starter Clayton Richard.
Select company: Thome now has 547 career HRs. He is 1 behind Mike Schmidt, who ranks 13th all-time. Thome also drew 2 walks, giving him a career 1,567. That moves him pass Pete Rose into 13th place all-time.
Quentin scratched: Carlos Quentin reportedly had a cortisone shot in his sore left heel. He could return Friday at Toronto.
On tap: Reigning Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee faces the Sox today with a 1-5 record, but don't be fooled. The lefty has pitched well in his last 5 starts and has a solid 3.45 ERA.