Thomas’ Return Picks Up White Sox

Though his presence wasn’t felt offensively, Frank Thomas made an emotional impact returning to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Thomas went hitless in his first game since returning from the 15-day disabled list, but the White Sox felt an emotional lift during a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Chicago.

“It looked like a big league lineup,” White Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen said. “It’s real nice to have him back.”

It was even more important that Jaime Navarro (5-6) righted himself. He gave up one run on eight hits and one walk and struck out eight. Roberto Hernandez pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

Ray Durham drove in both runs for the White Sox with a pair of sacrifice flies, scoring Guillen each time.

Thomas, sidelined since June 7 because of a strained stomach muscle, was activated from the disabled list before the game. He went zero for four and is batting .383. The White Sox won only six of 13 games without Thomas.

“It felt fine. It felt normal,” Thomas said. “I wish I would’ve waited a day if I knew I was going to go 0 for 4.”

Boston 2, Detroit 1--Brian Johnson was thrown out at the plate for the final out on a perfect relay as the Tigers lost at Detroit.

Tom Gordon (5-6) pitched seven innings and the Red Sox won the finale to avoid a three-game sweep.

Johnson was running on a 3-2 pitch when Jody Reed doubled into the left-field field corner. Left fielder Wilfredo Cordero quickly got to the ball and threw to shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in short left. Garciaparra’s throw was easily in time for catcher Scott Hatteberg to tag out Johnson.

Gordon won for the fourth time in his last five decisions, giving up one run and four hits.

Baltimore 5, Toronto 2--Cal Ripken hit the 500th and 501st doubles and drove in two runs as the Orioles won at Toronto.

Jeffrey Hammonds had a two-run home run and Brady Anderson had three hits and scored twice for Baltimore.

Ripken moved past Goose Goslin into 31st place on the career doubles list. He hit an RBI double in the first and scored on a single by B.J. Surhoff.

Anderson led off the sixth with an infield single. Two outs later, Ripken doubled into the left-field corner for a 3-2 lead.

Scott Kamieniecki (6-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two. Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 25th save.

Cleveland 5, New York 2--Sandy Alomar extended his career-high hitting streak to 21 games with a second-inning single, then hit the first pitch he saw from David Wells in the fourth into the left-field bleachers for a three-run home run at Cleveland.

Alomar has batted .442 (34 for 77) during his streak to raise his average to .373, second in the American League to Chicago’s Thomas.

Alomar’s 11th home run backed another solid outing by Brian Anderson (2-1), who gave up two runs on seven hits and one walk in seven innings. Anderson struck out five.

Kansas City 6, Milwaukee 5--Chili Davis hit a three-run home run in the eighth at Milwaukee and the Royals ended the Brewers’ four-game winning streak.

The Brewers had taken a 4-3 lead in the seventh with three runs on five consecutive singles.

Bob Wickman (4-3) relieved Brewer starter Ben McDonald, who gave up four hits in seven innings.

Chris Haney pitched the eighth and Jeff Montgomery gave up a two-out home run to Jeromy Burnitz in the ninth before getting his second save.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Ken Griffey Jr.

Team: Seattle

Performance: 3 for 5, hit major-league leading 29th homer

Team’s Result: Won

*

Player: Sandy Alomar

Team: Cleveland

Performance: 2 for 4, 21-game hitting streak, home run, 3 RBIs

Team’s Result: Won

*

Player: Cal Ripken

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 2 for 5, hit 500th and 501st career doubles

Team’s Result: Won

PITCHING

Player: Tom Gordon

Team: Boston

Performance: 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Won

*

Player: Jaime Navarro

Team: Chicago

Performance: 8 innings, 8 hits, 1 run, 8 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Won

*

Player: Brian Anderson

Team: Cleveland

Performance: 7 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 5 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Won