• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Thome powers White Sox to rout of A's

May 23, 2007 - 4:18 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox are starting to heat up on offense. Adding Jim Thome's bat to the lineup makes them even more potent.

Thome belted a three-run home run and drove in five runs as the White Sox clubbed the Oakland Athletics, 10-4, for their third straight victory.

Chicago has scored 28 runs and amassed 38 hits in its winning streak, including back-to-back 10-run games.

"Every time Jim is in the lineup, there are a lot of people who are relaxed," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "(The rest of the team) knows what he brings to the table. He makes everyone a little bit better."

The White Sox welcomed back Thome from a 3 1/2-week stay on the disabled Sunday and it has coincided with the offensive outburst.

Coming off a 42-home run season in 2006, Thome had been on the disabled list since April 28 with a strained muscle near his right rib cage.

"Everyone in our lineup did a heck of a job," Thome said. "We've got guys who grind it out. All these guys are great hitters. For me personally, it's a pleasure to be in the lineup. They bring the best out of you."

The lefthanded slugger, in his second start since coming back from the injury, finished 3-for-3, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. His three-run homer in the fourth inning gave the White Sox a 10-1 lead.

It was Thome's sixth home run of the season and first since April 18.

"I was just trying to have good at-bats, and not get too wild," Thome said. "Obviously with the injury I've had, I'm just trying to stay under control. It's not a good idea (going) for a triple, not right now."

Jermaine Dye belted a two-run homer, his 10th of the season, to help send Oakland to its third straight defeat.

"(Thome) is a professional hitter, (and a) veteran leader," Dye said. "He knows how to work the pitcher and get on base for us, and do what we need him to do."

Lefthander John Danks (3-4) won his third straight decision for the White Sox, allowing three runs - one earned - and seven hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out one.

"I picked a good night not to have my best control, because these guys did it all behind me," Danks said. "I actually gave (Thome) a big hug and told him that I miss seeing (his hitting)."

The White Sox wasted no time jumping on A's starter Colby Lewis, who was just called up from Class AAA Sacramento.

With two outs in the first, Thome singled and Dye lined a two-run homer into the left field seats for a 2-0 lead.

Chicago continued on the offensive in the second against Lewis, who was making just his sixth major league appearance since 2004.

One-out singles by Pablo Ozuna and Rob Mackowiak put runners at the corners. Alex Cintron doubled to center to plate both runners for a 4-0 advantage.

After Darin Erstad walked, Lewis came back to retire Tadahito Iguchi on a popout, but he was not as fortunate against Thome, who laced a two-run double to left to hike the margin to 6-0.

"(The White Sox) have such a powerful lineup," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "I've always been impressed with their team and their lineup, and they showed it tonight. That's for sure."

Marco Scutaro got the A's on the board in the third inning with a leadoff homer against Danks, who won his last two starts after starting the season 0-4.

Lewis never made it out of the fourth, allowing 10 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

"Colby obviously didn't hit his spots today," Geren said. "(The White Sox) hit him pretty good when he made his mistakes."

Shannon Stewart went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI singles for the A's.