Thome, Floyd Leads White Sox Over Tigers

Saturday, September 29th 2007, 9:54 pm

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) _ Jim Thome hit career homer No. 507, Juan Uribe singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 Saturday night.

Darin Erstad led off the Chicago ninth with a walk against Fernando Rodney (2-6), and Scott Podsednik then dropped a bunt down in front of the plate. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez picked it up and threw to shortstop Omar Infante, but second base umpire Doug Eddings ruled that Infante's foot was off the bag as he took the high throw and Erstad was safe.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland came out to argue and was ejected. Uribe then singled in the hole between first and second, and right fielder Ryan Raburn couldn't attempt a throw because he overran the ball.

Ehren Wasserman (1-1) recorded two outs to earn the win.

Pinch-hitter Marcus Thames hit White Sox reliever Boone Logan's first pitch in the eighth inning for his 18th homer, tying it at 2 and denying Gavin Floyd a win. Floyd allowed just six hits in seven innings, including Carlos Guillen's 20th homer in the sixth.

Thome hit a two-run homer off Justin Verlander in the first to give the White Sox an early lead. His 35th homer of the season was a high drive that cleared the right-field fence over a leaping Raburn and came after a walk to Josh Fields. It was one of just four hits Verlander allowed in six innings.

Chicago also honored Thome before the game for hitting his 500th home run this month. There were video tributes featuring former and current teammates, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Thome's family.

The win was just the 72nd for the White Sox and general manager Ken Williams promised before the game to take whatever approach is necessary to get Chicago back to its winning ways next season.

``I'll put it to you this way: There isn't one player out there that will be available that we will turn away from,'' Williams said. ``If that player can help us, we're going to go down that road to see if the fit is there and the economics match.''

Williams said the results this year were ``very shabby.'' The White Sox won the World Series in 2005 and had 90 wins in 2006.

``And again, we're somewhat at a loss as to how things transpired and how we never got clicking at any time in the season,'' Williams said. ``I take full responsibility for the personnel that was put on the field.''

Notes: The White Sox agreed with catcher A.J. Pierzynski on a two-year contract extension for $12.5 million through 2010. He will make $5.85 next season in the final year of his original three-year deal. ... Detroit's Magglio Ordonez sat out but will play in the season finale Sunday and is on his way to a batting crown with a .360 average. Ordonez also has 137 RBIs and manager Jim Leyland said it's probably the best single season any player he's managed has ever mustered. ... Floyd matched a career high with his seven innings pitched.