Thome's 550th homer sinks A's

CHICAGO – A.J. Pierzynski has watched Jim Thome come through in the clutch so many times, he never worries about the slugger when the pressure is on. Thome hit the 550th homer of his career in the eighth inning to put the White Sox ahead, and Chicago went on to beat the A's 6-2 Monday night. Pierzynski also homered, and Scott Podsednik scored two runs for the White Sox, who won for the fourth consecutive time and have won 10 of 13. Oakland reliever Craig Breslow (1-4) allowed a leadoff walk to Podsednik in the eighth inning. After Alexei Ramírez popped up a bunt attempt, Jermaine Dye singled off Santiago Casilla. On a 1-2 pitch, Thome hit an opposite-field home run to left-center to put the White Sox up 5-2. "He's got almost 600 home runs, so he's done it a million times," Pierzynski said. "He's been up there so many times that I don't think it phases him. "The guy made a mistake, and Jim hit it. The one...