Sep 15, 2007, 14:52 GMT
- Chicago slugger Jim Thome will attempt to become the 23rd player in major league history to reach the 500 home run mark this afternoon when the White Sox resume their three-game series with the visiting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at U.S. Cellular Field.
Thome remained stuck on career homer No. 499 on Friday, as he finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Chicago's 5-3 win. Jermaine Dye finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored in the victory, while Paul Konerko finished 2- for-3 and scored twice for the White Sox, who have won two in a row after a three-game slide.
Jose Contreras (9-16) yielded 11 hits and three runs over 7 1/3 innings, winning for the third time in his last four starts. Bobby Jenks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 38th save.
Angels hurler Bartolo Colon (6-7) was charged with eight hits and five runs -- three earned -- over 4 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two in his first start since July 23. He is 0-5 in his last seven outings and turned in a poor start after missing almost seven weeks with right elbow troubles.
Garret Anderson had three hits and scored twice for the AL West-leading Angels, who have dropped two straight and four of six. Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis added two hits and an RBI each and Kendry Morales added a run- scoring single.
Thome, the only player in Chicago's starting lineup to not reach base on Friday, 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.
Jered Weaver will have the task of trying to keep Thome in the park today, as he tries to improve upon his 11-7 record. Weaver was tagged with the loss on Sunday against the Cleveland Indians and was charged with six runs and nine hits in five innings, raising his earned run average to 4.00.
Weaver held the White Sox scoreless over 5 2/3 innings to get the win earlier in the year in his only other appearance against them.
Chicago will pin its hopes on righty Jon Garland, who is 9-11 with a 4.59 ERA. Garland was tagged with the loss on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins, as he allowed five runs (one earned) and five hits in eight innings.
Garland has struggled mightily in his career against the Angels, going just 3-7 against them with a 4.86 ERA in 13 starts. However, one of those wins came the last time he faced them back on May 5.
Chicago has won four of it seven meetings with the Halos this season, with the Angels taking two of three from the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in April.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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