Thome powers White Sox with career-high 7 RBIs

[July 18, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Jim Thome hit a grand slam and a three-run homer for a career-high seven RBIs Friday night, carrying the Chicago White Sox to a 12-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

With 14 RBIs in the last three games, Thome increased his career total to 1,545 and passed Harry Heilmann and Willie Stargell into 41st place on baseball's all-time list. His previous single-game best was six; he did that four times, most recently at Baltimore on July 6, 2006 - which also was when he had hit his last grand slam.

The home runs were the 556th and 557th of Thome's 17-year career and moved him within six of Reggie Jackson for 12th place. It was his 43rd multihomer game.

It was 3-all in the fifth when Orioles starter Jason Berken walked Scott Podsednik and Jermaine Dye before hanging a 2-0 pitch that Thome lined over the right-field fence.

After Adam Jones' two-run homer off White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink made it 6-5, two Baltimore relievers loaded the bases in the sixth by walking Podsednik and Alexei Ramirez and hitting Dye with a pitch. Thome then sent Danys Baez's waist-high offering far over the center-field wall - a shot the White Sox estimated at 448 feet - for his ninth career grand slam.

Popular for his on-field accomplishments and off-field charity work, Thome got a standing ovation, emerged from the dugout and waved to the fans.

Paul Konerko also homered for the White Sox, who moved within 2 1/2 games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. John Danks (8-6) allowed three runs in five innings for Chicago, which is 31-21 since starting the season 15-22.

Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have a league-worst 14-28 road record.

Berken (1-7) gave up six runs in 4 1-3 innings and is winless since earning a victory in his May 26 major league debut.

Podsednik reached base five times (three singles, two walks) and scored three runs.

NOTES: Thome also drew his 1,605th career walk, tying him with Darrell Evans for 11th all-time. ... White Sox RHP Bartolo Colon (left knee inflammation) is scheduled to make one more rehab start before coming off the DL and pitching in a July 24 doubleheader at Detroit. ... Orioles RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who has a viral infection, will start Sunday instead of Saturday as previously scheduled. Brad Bergesen has been moved up a day to start Saturday. ... The Orioles plan to call up RHP David Hernandez to pitch Monday against the Yankees. ... White Sox LF Carlos Quentin (left foot plantar fasciitis) is still up to a week away from returning to the team because he isn't running well in rehab games, manager Ozzie Guillen said.

[Associated Press]

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