Thome, Contreras lead White Sox over Orioles 3-1

[April 17, 2008]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Looks like a one-game suspension was just what Jim Thome needed to put some life back into his bat. Thome broke a prolonged power drought with a three-run homer and a double, leading the Chicago White Sox past the skidding Baltimore Orioles 3-1 Wednesday night.

Jose Contreras (1-1) pitched seven innings of four-hit ball for the White Sox, who have won nine of 12. He struck out six, walked none and lowered his ERA from 6.17 to 4.34.

Scott Linebrink worked the eighth and Bobby Jenks got three straight outs for his sixth save.

Thome was forced to sit Tuesday after being suspended for inappropriate actions during an April 11 game against Detroit. He returned to lineup against the Orioles with a .156 batting average and a homerless drought that had reached 43 at-bats.

In his first plate appearance, Thome followed a leadoff single by Nick Swisher and a walk to Orlando Cabrera with a shot to center off Adam Loewen (0-1). That proved to be all the offense the White Sox needed, although Thome added his third double of the season and finished 2-for-4.

Aubrey Huff drove in the lone run for the Orioles, who have lost six of eight after a 6-1 start.

Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said beforehand that he was relying on Loewen to go deep into the game to preserve his overtaxed bullpen. After Loewen allowed the first three batters to score, it appeared the Orioles would again get a poor performance from a starting rotation with only three wins.

But Loewen settled down, aided by a pair of outfield assists. Nick Markakis threw out Thome at third on a third-inning bloop single by Paul Konerko, and Luke Scott cut down Cabrera trying to score in the fifth on a single by A.J. Pierzynski.

Loewen lasted six innings. The left-hander gave up three runs, six hits and five walks in his strongest outing of the season.

Contreras, however, was much better. After singles by Markakis, Kevin Millar and Huff produced a fourth-inning run, the right-hander concluded his outing by retiring the next 11 batters.

Notes: The White Sox have homered in 12 of 14 games and have allowed only four home runs all season. ... Huff stole his second base of the season. He had one all last year. ... Chicago accepted RHP Fernando Hernandez, a Rule 5 selection, back from Oakland. He will be assigned to Double-A Birmingham.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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