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Thome homers as Sox pound Johnson, Marlins

Jun 19, 2007 - 5:34 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- A.J. Pierzynski and Jim Thome made Josh Johnson's return very unpleasant.

Pierzynski singled three times off Johnson and Thome provided the knockout punch with a home run as the reeling Chicago White Sox stomped the Florida Marlins, 10-5, in the opener of a three-game interleague set.

Jerry Owens scored three times and Rob Mackowiak collected two hits for the White Sox, who had lost 17 of 21. The offense scored six-plus runs for their third straight game after scoring six runs just three times in its previous 19 contests.

"We hit the ball better and had a little more confidence," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We're keeping it rolling. It's a good feeling."

After going 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 31 games last season, Johnson's promising rookie campaign came to an end on September 12 when he was pulled from a start against the New York Mets with an elbow injury.

The 23-year-old yielded just three runs in 15 1/3 innings over three rehab starts, but he was not facing a farm club Monday.

"Physically I felt fine, everything else was terrible," Johnson said. "I just couldn't get on top of anything. Every single pitch was up. You get in a hitter's count, and you're pretty much screwed."

"Sometimes seeing a fresh face (in Johnson), or seeing someone you haven't faced before, at least you have no bad history with him," Paul Konerko said. "You just kind of run with it."

After he loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, the Sox opened the scoring when Konerko grounded into a double play. Pierzynski extended the inning with a run-scoring single to right.

Pierzynski struck again in the third after walks to Thome and Konerko loaded the bases with one out. The lefthanded swinger singled again to right, plating Owens for a 3-2 lead.

"We're swinging the bats better," Pierzynski said. "We're getting to where we need to be. It was a good night for me, and a good night for everyone."

Thome provided Chicago a big 8-2 cushion when he drilled a three-run homer - his ninth of the season and 481st career - in the fourth after two errors kept the inning moving. Two batters later Pierzynski, who entered with three hits in his last 21 at-bats, ended Johnson's nightmare with his third safety.

Johnson was tagged for eight runs - four earned - and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked four.

"(Johnson) was fine," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "If we make a couple of plays behind him, it's a different story."

The support provided Chicago starter Jose Contreras (5-7) his first win since May 21. The righthander allowed five runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

"I felt I had better control today, than I did in my last outing," Contreras said through an interpreter. "My fastball is not as good as it was earlier (in the season), but I have to work through it. Sometimes that's what a pitcher goes through. (But) I'm not worried about it."

Alfredo Amezaga had two hits and two RBI for the Marlins, who have lost five of six.

Chicago right fielder Jermaine Dye, who drove in a run, left after making a diving catch in the fourth inning with a strained right quad.

"I think that play was the fuel of the game, when (Dye) made that play," Guillen said. "The game could've gone the other way if he hadn't made (the catch). He could still play, but I took him out. I didn't want to take a chance."