Thome was tough on the Indians, hitting a pair of 2-run homers and drawing a pair of walks to lift the Sox to a 7-4 win.

With left fielder Carlos Quentin scratched from the game with a sore left heel, Thome helped pick up the offensive slack.

"He?s working so hard, he believes in himself and he trusts himself," manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters after Thome raised his home run total to 6 and his RBI total to 18. "That?s why he comes out (of slumps) quicker than other ones. This guy just keeps working hard and he?s going to come out."

Thome?s first-inning homer to center field off Indians starter Jeremy Sowers (0-2) followed a walk to Jermaine Dye and gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead.

His home run in the fifth came after Dye?s double, putting the White Sox in front for good at 5-4.

"Every time he hits, they?re important ones," Guillen said.

Filling in for demoted starter Jose Contreras, Clayton Richard pitched 3? innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks.

Thome bailed out the offense, and D.J. Carrasco did the same with the pitching staff. The right-handed reliever followed Richard with 2 scoreless innings, and Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel and Bobby Jenks also pitched scoreless relief.

"Carrasco?s been pitching great," Guillen said. "Carrasco and (Lance) Broadway, those two kids help us to keep the bullpen in place. They keep everybody fresh."

Cleveland?s Matt LaPorta led off the fourth inning with a single off Richard, and the lefty was gone after Grady Sizemore?s one-out single.

Carrasco allowed an RBI double to Asdrubal Cabrera, but after intentional walking Victor Martinez to load the bases, he struck out Mark DeRosa and Shin-Soo Choo.

Reserve catcher Corky Miller gave the Sox some breathing room with a 2-run single in the seventh inning.