Designated or Not, Thomas Is a Hitter

One bit of fallout from the White Sox’s trade of Harold Baines to Baltimore is a new role for Frank Thomas: designated hitter.

No problem. Well, not much of one.

“I hit for a living,” said Thomas, who broke a sixth-inning tie with his 25th home run Wednesday, leading Chicago to a 3-2 victory over Detroit and ending a losing streak at four games.

Thomas, the AL’s leading hitter with a .361 average, was starting his second game at DH, and he is one for seven in that time.

But don’t be fooled.

“He’s such a good hitter that you just keep your fingers crossed and hope he keeps it in the yard,” Tiger Manager Buddy Bell said.

Yet Thomas, who has 27 RBIs in 20 games since the All-Star break, is not comfortable sitting between at-bats.

“It’s a new role for me. I’ve got to get accustomed and get my mind going,” he said. “It will take a few days to get used to it.”

Doug Drabek (7-7) won for the first time in seven starts since June 17, giving up five hits in six innings. Drabek struck out five and walked four.

Roberto Hernandez got the final four outs for his 27th save in 31 chances.

Scott Sanders (3-8) took the loss, the Tigers’ fourth in five games.