ChiSox Break Out The Lumber

The Big Hurt's big night and a nine-run seventh inning helped the Chicago White Sox end their longest losing streak of the season.

Frank Thomas hit a three-run homer in the first and a bases-loaded double in the seventh Saturday night, matching a career high with six RBIs as the White Sox routed the St. Louis Cardinals 15-7 to snap a four-game skid.

The White Sox avoided a three-game sweep in the interleague matchup of Central Division leaders.

Thomas' 28th homer followed a walk to Ray Durham and single by Jose Valentin in the first. His double down the third- base line cleared the bases in the seventh and gave him 83 RBIs, six more than last season.

Darryl Kile (11-6) lasted just 4 2-3 innings, surrendering eight hits and six runs, and also was involved in the most heated incident of the night.

After Fernando Tatis, who homered twice Thursday night, was hit by a pitch for the third time in the series, Kile drilled Magglio Ordonez in the back in the bottom half of the inning, the fifth.

Chicago manager Jerry Manuel went to the pate to check on Ordonez, who was writhing on the ground, and began screaming at Kile.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa then became animated, but it was not clear if his comments were directed at Manuel or home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez.

Ordonez took first, Paul Konerko singled him to third and Chris Singleton hit a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 6-4 before Jeff Abbott walked to finish Kile.

Two innings later the White Sox broke it open.

Abbott hit an RBI single, Herbert Perry had a run-scoring double, Durham drew a bases-loaded walk, and Jose Valentin was hit by a pitch for another run before Thomas' three-run double off Mike Matthews. Konerko then added an RBI double and Singleton a run-scoring grounder.

Eric Davis had a career-high five hits in five at-bats for the Cardinals with two RBIs. He finished the series 9-for-11.

Tatis hit his 11th homer leading off the ninth against Jesus Pena, who hit Eduardo Perez in the left shoulder with two outs in the inning. Perez jumped up and glared at Pena, but made his way to first. He scored on Keith McDonald's third homer.

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