Jim Thome homered in the 15th inning to pass Mickey Mantle on the career list and give the Chicago White Sox a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday that boosted their American League Central division lead.
Thome's 537th home run put him above former New York Yankees great Mantle and in sole possession of 14th place on the list of all-time home-run hitters.
The White Sox moved 2-1/2 games in front of second-place Minnesota with their third consecutive victory and second in a row over the Angels in this showdown of division leaders.
The White Sox won again without slugger Carlos Quentin, who is scheduled for surgery tomorrow on his broken right wrist and could miss the rest of the season.
The Angels failed to protect a 5-2 lead early and a 6-5 lead in the ninth inning.
Elsewhere in the AL, it was: Athletics 5, Orioles 1 Blue Jays 7, Rays 4 (in 13 innings) Tigers 6, Twins 4 Royals 3, Indians 1 Rangers 15, Red Sox 8 and Yankees 7, Mariners 4.
In the National League, it was: Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 2 Brewers 1, Padres 0 Nationals 8, Braves 5 (in 10 innings) Cubs 14, Reds 9 Cardinals 5, Marlins 3 Astros 2, Rockies 0 and Giants 7, Pirates 6.
In Chicago, Thome, the designated hitter, belted his 30th home run of the season, off reliever Justin Speier as the White Sox (80-61) extended their AL Central lead.
"We knew Minnesota had lost. It makes it a big win for us right there," Thome told reporters.
"No chance (the lead) is comfortable when we clinch, that's when it's comfortable."
Chicago's third consecutive win was a long time coming with the two teams combining to use 13 pitchers.
Anaheim starter John Lackey and Chicago's Gavin Floyd both pitched seven innings and allowed five runs apiece before the bullpens took over.
Ehren Wassermann picked up the victory after recording the third out in the top of the 15th.
"I don't know if it's the greatest win this year so far because we've had lots," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But fighting and coming from behind, it's nice to see."
The Angels (85-56) used the long ball to take early control of the game. Juan Rivera hit a two-run shot and Mike Napoli added a solo in the sixth to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage.
Nick Swisher's two-run home run in the seventh tied the game at 5-5 and both teams added runs in the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
The White Sox will put John Danks on the mound next as Chicago goes for a three-game sweep of the Angels.
In Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks gave Manny Ramirez three chances to hurt them and he came through twice for the Dodgers to win 7-2.
Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie and added a two-run double in the sixth, helping the Dodgers replace the Diamondbacks in first place in the NL West for the first time since April 4.
Chad Billingsley (14-10) took a shutout into the seventh for Los Angeles, which won its seventh straight.
Brandon Webb (19-7) issued a career-high six walks while failing in his third attempt to reach 20 wins for the first time.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily September 8, 2008)