Thome passes Sosa on all-time home runs list
Orioles DH hits first long ball with club, No. 610 in career
The Orioles' designated hitter passed Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the all-time home runs list with his solo blast in the fourth inning of Friday night's game against the Indians. Thome has 610 career homers, 20 fewer than Ken Griffey Jr., who is currently in sixth place. Barry Bonds is the all-time home run leader with 762.
"There's nothing Jimmy [does] that I don't say, 'man, you're pretty lucky to watch this,'" said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "I'm honored to have him pass my way. They don't come like him too often."
Thome, who spent his first 12 big-league seasons in Cleveland, crushed a 3-2 offering from Derek Lowe 418 feet into the bleachers in right-field. It was Thome's first home run since June 23 when he was a member of the Phillies. The 41-year-old has six home runs this season.
"He threw me a slider early in the at-bat that I took," Thome said. "I was just trying to really see the ball, and the ball was there."
Thome went 3-for-4 and fell a triple shy of a cycle in his return to Cleveland.