Thome hits 600th home run
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By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
DETROIT - Minnesota slugger Jim Thome become the eighth player to hit 600 home runs, connecting twice against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
The 40-year-old Thome hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning for No. 599, then added a three-run shot in the seventh inning to give Minnesota a 9-5 lead. The milestone came on a 2-1 pitch from Daniel Schlereth.
Both homers were hit to the opposite field. When No. 600 cleared the fence in left, Thome raised his right fist as he went around first base, and the Detroit crowd delivered a standing ovation as he rounded the bases after his milestone homer. His achievement overshadowed a solo shot in the first inning by Detroit's Delmon Young, who had been traded from the Twins to the Tigers earlier Monday.
Thome became the eighth player to reach 600, and the second-fastest hitter to reach the milestone, hitting his 600th homer in at-bat No. 8,167. Babe Ruth needed only 6,921 at-bats.
His 65 home runs against Detroit are his most against any team.
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