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      MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Jim Thome slapped hands with both base
coaches about as hard as he hit the winning home run. With
childlike enthusiasm, he chucked his helmet so high the home plate
umpire had to backpedal to avoid it.

      By giving the Minnesota Twins a big victory over the Chicago
White Sox, Thome's 581st career homer was as satisfying as any of
those before it.

      Thome's two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning - against
the team that decided not to bring him back this season - sent the
Twins to a 7-6 win over the White Sox on Tuesday night to stretch
their AL Central lead to four games.


      "We brought Thome in here for a reason, and that's one of
'em," said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, who recalled Thome's
declaration on the bench he was going to come through with a clutch
hit.


      "We were just having fun," Thome said.


      Yes, even with his 40th birthday beckoning later this month,
Thome is still enjoying this game like a rookie.

      "That never gets old," Thome said, adding: "Tomorrow's a new
day, but for a little bit here you cherish that moment."

      After Delmon Young's leadoff single against Matt Thornton (3-4),
Thome smashed an 0-1 fastball and sent it sailing an estimated 445
feet over the right-field bleachers to send his new team and the
fans at sold-out Target Field into a frenzy. He got the obligatory
head-slapping at home plate and shaving-cream pie during the
post-game interview.

      "Any time you play your ex-team, you obviously want to do
well," Thome said.


      Alexei Ramirez hit the tying home run in the ninth inning and
the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th, as Twins relievers Matt Capps
and Jon Rauch gave up three hits each in the last two innings. Ron
Mahay (1-1) was the winner.

      Paul Konerko, who earlier became the second player in the league
to reach 30 homers this season, grounded into a double play after
the White Sox loaded the bases in the ninth following Ramirez's
homer.

      White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen insisted before the game the
Twins don't have a mental edge over his team, but they're on some
impressive runs against the Sox: 20-6 overall and 12-4 at home.

      How will the Sox overcome the latest devastating loss? They've
blown five games since the All-Star break with a lead in the eighth
inning or later.

      "Have a couple of drinks and come back tomorrow and fight,"
Guillen said.

      The Twins are 23-7 in their last 30 games, and the White Sox are
15-16 in their last 31. The teams have just five more meetings this
year.

      "I will take that matchup again," Guillen said.

      "The only thing that stings is the fact that our offense
battled all night and we couldn't pull it out," he said. "That's
the only thing that hurts for me. It doesn't matter who hit the
home run."

      White Sox starter John Danks recovered from a four-run first
inning to finish seven frames, and the Twins had two runners -
including Thome - thrown out at the plate. Young's fifth-inning
homer gave them the lead back at 6-5.

      Chicago's relievers have given up 18 earned runs in their last
20 2-3 innings. That's not the way to climb back in the race.


      "We know we can do it. We've had some really good runs this
year," Thornton said. "We've just had about a two week period
where we're not playing very good baseball. It's just a matter of
getting back in the groove."

      Minnesota's bullpen was cruising until Capps came in, retiring
10 of 11 batters in relief of Scott Baker. Glen Perkins, in his
first appearance at Target Field, got Mark Kotsay to ground out
with the bases full to finish the fifth and stranded A.J.
Pierzynski following a leadoff double in the sixth. Kotsay is 0 for
22 against lefties this year.

      The division continues to revolve around this rivalry, and it's
still intense despite the turnover on both teams and Guillen's
constant praise for the Twins. Young proved that in the eighth
inning when he charged home on a groundout and veered toward chief
agitator and catcher A.J. Pierzynski to deliver a forearm shiver
that didn't dislodge the ball from the catcher's mitt.
   

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Minnesota Twins

Jim Thome slapped hands with both base
coaches about as hard as he hit the winning home run. With
childlike enthusiasm, he chucked his helmet so high the home plate
umpire had to backpedal to avoid it.

Thome's shot wins it for Twins over White Sox, 7-6

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