Thome Displays Clout in Return to Cleveland

Jim Thome still feels at home at Jacobs Field -- even while being booed.

Thome hit two two-run home runs and Javier Vazquez pitched six strong innings to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 11-0, Monday at Cleveland.

“It adds to the list of the wonderful things that have happened here,� Thome said after getting his 36th multi-homer game and passing Jeff Bagwell for 30th on the career homer list with 450.

Thome hit an Indians team-record 334 homers before leaving after the 2002 season to sign a six-year, $85-million contract with Philadelphia. His two drives Monday were his first homers at Jacobs Field as a visitor.

Indians fans are now split in their sentiments toward the 35-year-old slugger, who was traded to Chicago last winter. Many still cheer him, but there are plenty of resounding boos each time he comes to bat in Cleveland.

“I try to block it out and not let the distractions bother me,� he said.

Indians first baseman Ben Broussard said maybe the booing should stop.

“It’s understandable to boo a guy who has gone elsewhere, but they need to change it up because he’s hitting everything the way it is,� Broussard said.

“Maybe it’s motivating him.�

Cleveland third baseman Aaron Boone left because of a mild concussion after tumbling headfirst into a photographers’ area trying to catch a foul ball in the third inning. He was taken to a hospital for examination.

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New York 4, Detroit 0 -- Randy Johnson didn’t give up a hit for 5 2/3 innings and combined with two relievers for a two-hitter at Detroit.

Derek Jeter jammed his right hand in the third inning while sliding into second base. After batting in the fifth, he was taken out for precautionary reasons so that his hand could be iced, the Yankees said.

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Kansas City 6, Oakland 4 -- Shane Costa doubled twice and drove in a run at Oakland and Seth Etherton won in the majors for first time in more than a year.

The Royals won for only the second time in 17 games, improved to 4-22 on the road and gave Manager Buddy Bell his 400th win.

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Texas 2, Seattle 0 -- John Rheinecker gave up four hits in 8 1/3 innings in his second major league start and Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer to lead the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Seattle, shut out for a major league-high seventh time this season, got one runner as far as third base and that was in the ninth inning.

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Toronto 7, Boston 6 -- Pinch-hitter Shea Hillenbrand hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, and the Blue Jays overcame a tying, three-run homer by Jason Varitek at Toronto.

Down, 6-3, in the eighth, Varitek tied the score with a two-out homer against Justin Speier.

Toronto improved to 6-3 against Boston, all the losses coming when the recently demoted Josh Towers pitched.