Thome powers White Sox

His 3-run homer puts down Baltimore

Chicago's Jim Thome returns to the lineup and connects for a first-inning home run against the Orioles, who have lost six of their last eight. (NICK WASS/Associated Press)

Looks like a one-game suspension was just what Jim Thome needed to put some life back into his bat.

Thome broke a prolonged power drought with a three-run homer and a double, leading the Chicago White Sox past the skidding Orioles, 3-1, last night in Baltimore.

Jose Contreras (1-1) pitched seven innings of four-hit ball for the White Sox, who have won nine of 12. He struck out six, walked none, and lowered his ERA from 6.17 to 4.34.

Scott Linebrink worked the eighth and Bobby Jenks got three straight outs for his sixth save.

Thome was forced to sit Tuesday after being suspended for inappropriate actions during an April 11 game against Detroit. He returned to lineup against the Orioles with a .156 batting average and a homerless drought that had reached 43 at-bats.

In his first plate appearance, Thome followed a leadoff single by Nick Swisher and a walk to Orlando Cabrera with a shot to center off Adam Loewen (0-1). That proved to be all the offense the White Sox needed, although Thome added his third double of the season and finished 2 for 4.

Aubrey Huff drove in the lone run for the Orioles, who have lost six of eight after a 6-1 start.

Rangers 7, Blue Jays 5 - Frank Catalanotto scored the go-ahead run on A.J. Burnett's wild pitch in the 14th inning and Texas won in Toronto, snapping a five-game losing streak.

With the bullpen depleted, Burnett (1-1) relieved in the 14th. Burnett, who started in Texas Sunday, became Toronto's ninth pitcher of the game, tying a team record.

Gerald Laird greeted Burnett with a single and went to third on Catalanotto's one-out double just inside the first base line.

With the infield in, Laird tried to score on Michael Young's grounder and was thrown out at the plate. Catalanotto moved up to third on the play and scored one pitch later when Burnett threw a pitch through catcher Gregg Zaun's legs.

Mariners 4, Athletics 2 - Felix Hernandez found success with all four of his pitches, throwing his first complete game in more than a year to lead visiting Seattle past Oakland.

Hernandez struck out eight in an eight-hitter, retiring 16 of 18 during one stretch. He threw 115 pitches in a game that took only 2 hours 9 minutes.

Twins 6, Rays 5 - Mike Lamb hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning that Carl Crawford caught in foul territory and Minnesota beat Tampa Bay in Minneapolis.

Juan Rincon (1-0) recorded the last two outs of the eighth and Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his fifth save in as many chances, striking out Crawford to end the game.

Astros 2, Phillies 1 - Roy Oswalt snapped out of an early funk with seven strong innings, Michael Bourn hit a tiebreaking solo homer, and Houston won in Philadelphia.

Bourn connected off Kyle Kendrick (1-2) in the fifth inning to help beat his former teammates a night after the Phillies scored four runs off closer Jose Valverde to win in the bottom of the ninth.

Mets 5, Nationals 2 - Carlos Beltran hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot in a four-run fifth inning, to back John Maine's solid start and lead host New York past Washington.

Maine earned his first win with support from a bullpen that spoiled his stellar effort April 10 against the Phillies. After he walked two with two outs in the seventh inning, Joe Smith got No. 3 hitter Ryan Zimmerman on a called third strike.

Cardinals 5, Brewers 4 - Adam Wainwright pitched into the eighth inning and homered, helping St. Louis run its home winning streak to seven with a victory over Milwaukee. Albert Pujols contributed with his bat and glove. He hit an early two-run double, then made a leaping catch at first base in the ninth to prevent Milwaukee from tying it.

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 1 - Brandon Webb pitched another gem and, for the first time, has begun a season by winning his first four starts as visiting Arizona beat Barry Zito and San Francisco in a matchup featuring former Cy Young award winners.

Marlins 6, Braves 5 - Mike Jacobs hit his sixth home run and Luis Gonzalez added a two-run pinch-hit homer to help surprising Florida beat struggling Atlanta in Miami.

Rockies 10, Padres 2 - Garrett Atkins went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and Colorado scored seven runs in the ninth inning of a victory in San Diego.

Cubs 12, Reds 3 - Derrek Lee homered, Carlos Zambrano pitched seven solid innings while helping himself with three hits as host Chicago jumped to an early lead against Cincinnati.