Thome's 2 HRs power White Sox over Angels
The White Sox haven't been playing chopped meat during this homestand.
They've faced two of the prime teams in baseball - the Yankees and the Angels - and they continued to feast in Wednesday night's 6-2 victory over the latter.
Before Los Angeles came to U.S. Cellular Field with a five-game winning streak and the best record (63-40) in the American League, the Sox had won three of four from the Yankees, who stormed out of the all-star break with 11 wins in 13 games.
"You look at both teams, they've played very well and they both have tremendous clubs," said White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome. "And we understand that. Coming home from Minnesota, we knew this homestand, we had to play well. And we've done that.
"But we've still got a lot more to do, a lot more to accomplish. I think if we can maintain it, maintain what we've done, hopefully we'll get to where we're trying to get to in the end."
That would be the World Series, via the playoffs, and the Sox stayed 1 game behind the Tigers in the AL Central with their second straight win. They go for the sweep this afternoon.
"We're a pretty confident group anyway, but it doesn't hurt to play good teams well," first baseman Paul Konerko said. "I think it adds to it. We know the story.
"We've been playing a lot of tough teams, so if we can just kind of regain and get it to September in position to do something, I think that's what you want to do. I don't think anybody is going to run away with it."
The White Sox extended their impressive run at home, winning for the 16th time in 21 games. Thome sparked the offense, hitting 2 home runs and driving in 4 runs, while Konerko also homered and doubled.
Both of Thome's bombs sailed over the fence in left-center, a very good sign for the veteran DH.
"I'm not pulling off," Thome said. "I'm staying on the ball a little longer. The first at-bat, he (Angels starter Sean O'Sullivan) threw me a nice changeup and I felt myself coming to the right side a little bit.
"So the next at-bat, I tried to stay in there and drive the ball to center, and it worked out."
Thome's offense alone was more than enough for Sox starter Gavin Floyd (9-6), who pitched 8 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits.
"He was quality," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He was efficient. Four pitches for strikes, using all his pitches, moving the ball around, using fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and just basically going right after guys.
"He was aggressive. When he throws the ball over the plate, he's as good as anybody."
Like the White Sox, Floyd has been very good at home lately, going 5-0 with a 1.54 ERA in his last 8 starts.
"I don't have an explanation for that," Floyd said. "I don't pay attention to that. I don't know. I can always say I try to execute pitches. This park is notorious for the wind blowing out and the ball carrying. I just try to execute pitches."
Scot Gregor's game tracker
White Sox 6, Angels 2
Wednesday's grade: A. Starter Gavin Floyd was outstanding and Jim Thome carried the offense with 2 HRs and 4 RBI.
Extended run: Since May 22, Floyd is 7-2 with a 2.24 ERA.
Been there, done that: Thome has 44 multi-home run games for his career, three this season.
Seeing double: Paul Konerko's double in the second inning was the 300th of his career. Konerko also hit a solo home run in the eighth.
More doubles: Gordon Beckham doubled in the sixth inning, the sixth in his last six games.