Thome goes for history against Angels

Sep 14, 2007, 14:56 GMT

- Chicago slugger Jim Thome will attempt to become the 23rd player in major league history to reach the 500 home run mark when the White Sox begin a three-game series with the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight at U.S. Cellular Field.

Thome belted career homer No. 499 in the fourth inning of Wednesday's 7-4 White Sox victory over Cleveland and finished 3-for-4 with three RBI to help Chicago snap a three-game losing streak.

Juan Uribe and Paul Konerko also homered for the White Sox, with Konerko amassing three hits along with three RBI.

Chicago starter Javier Vazquez (12-8) lasted 6 1/3 innings, yielding two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and striking out nine to pick up the win.

Thome can become the third player to hit his 500th home run this season. Toronto's Frank Thomas accomplished the feat on June 28 and the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez did so on August 4.

He will take his swings tonight against Bartolo Colon, who makes his first start tonight after nearly a two-month stay on the disabled list.

Colon last pitched for the Angels on July 23 and lasted only one inning in a loss at Oakland. The 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner was placed on the DL the following day with a sore right elbow.

Injuries have been a problem for the veteran right-hander the last two years. Colon made just 10 starts in 2006 before being shelved by a torn rotator cuff, an injury that also forced him to miss the first three weeks of this season.

Colon faced the White Sox in Anaheim back in May and held Chicago to two runs and five hits in a seven-inning no decision. The 34-year-old owns a 9-5 record with a 4.09 ERA in 18 career starts against the Sox.

Thome has never previously faced Colon, his former teammate in Cleveland from 1997-2002.

Jose Contreras will try to shake off a rough recent outing when he takes the mound tonight for Chicago. The Cuban import allowed seven runs (four earned) and 13 hits in just five innings Saturday against Minnesota, but did not receive a decision in an 8-7 White Sox win.

Contreras had won consecutive starts prior to that game, including a September 2 victory at Cleveland in which he tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings.

The right-hander is 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels and defeated Anaheim in Chicago with 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball on April 27.

The Angels began this current six-game road trip by taking the first two matchups with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, but couldn't complete the series sweep on Thursday. Jon Leicester teamed with three Baltimore relievers on a five-hit shutout as the Orioles earned a 3-0 win.

John Lackey was denied in his attempt to join Kelvim Escobar as the Angels' second 17-game winner his season. Lackey was touched for just three earned runs on nine hits in seven innings and struck out eight in the loss.

Vladimir Guerrero finished 2-for-4 for Los Angeles, which still owns a comfortable 8 1/2-game lead over Seattle atop the AL West.

These teams have split six meetings so far this season, with the Angels taking two of three from the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in April.

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