American League
Frank Thomas hit a three-run shot in the first inning of the Toronto Blue Jays' 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins in the American League on Thursday, becoming the 21st major leaguer to reach 500 home runs.
He also had an RBI double and tied his season high with four RBIs, then was ejected in the ninth inning by plate umpire Mark Wegner after being called out on strikes for the second time in the game. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons came out to argue and was also ejected.
Torii Hunter homered twice and Jason Bartlett also connected for Minnesota, which rallied from a 5-1 deficit to gain the win for Carlos Silva (6-8). Jason Frasor (1-3) was the loser.
Thomas has hit 50 career homers against the Twins, his most against any team and the most by an active player against Minnesota. Rocky Colavito hit 52 against the Twins and Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson each hit 51.
Indians 4, Athletics 3
At Cleveland, Jason Michaels hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and Cleveland held off Oakland.
An ill-advised throw by Michaels from left field let the Athletics put runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, but closer Joe Borowski completed his 22nd save in 24 chances.
The Indians trailed 3-1 when Michaels hit his sixth home run. He connected off Ron Flores (0-2) and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Dan Johnson homered, doubled and singled twice for Oakland, which held an early 3-0 lead. The Athletics fell to 1-6 on their nine-game road trip.
Paul Byrd (7-3) allowed three runs in seven innings for Cleveland.
Tigers 5, Rangers 2
At Detroit, Kenny Rogers allowed one run over six innings in his first home start since shoulder surgery, leading the Tigers over the Texas.
Rogers (2-0) missed the first 12 weeks of the season after surgery to remove a blood clot from his throwing shoulder. When the left-hander returned last week, he gave up two hits in six shutout innings at Atlanta.
This time, he helped Detroit stop a two-game losing streak in his first start at Comerica Park since Oct. 22 when he won Game 2 of the World Series -- the Tigers' only victory against St. Louis.
Gary Sheffield hit a two-run homer, his team-high 18th.
Texas starter Kevin Millwood (4-7) gave up three runs, five hits and six walks in six innings, striking out six.
White Sox 5, Devil Rays 1
At St. Petersburg, Florida, Javier Vazquez allowed one run in seven innings, Paul Konerko hit a pair of solo homers and Chicago completed a four-game sweep.
Vazquez (4-5) won for the second time in his last 13 starts. He gave up seven hits, three walks and had 10 strikeouts -- his 30th career game with 10 or more.
Konerko homered in a two-run second off Scott Kazmir and later made it 5-1 on a seventh-inning shot against Jason Hammel. It was Konerko's second multihomer game this season and 21st in his career.
Tadahito Iguchi added a fourth-inning homer for the White Sox, who hadn't recorded a series sweep since last August against Detroit.
Kazmir (5-4) threw 114 pitches in 5 1-3 innings. He allowed four runs and six hits, and ran his winless streak at home to 14 starts -- including four losses -- since last July 3.
National League
Scott Olsen struck out his first five batters and finished with 10, one shy of his career high, as the Florida Marlins defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 to avoid a three-game sweep in the National League on Thursday.
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