St. Petersburg, FL (My Sportsbook) - Jim Thome homered as part of a 2-for-3 effort with four runs scored, and the Chicago White Sox crushed the Tampa Bay Rays, 12-2, at Tropicana Field.

Thome drove in two runs and worked a pair of walks for the White Sox, who took three of four in a rematch of last season's ALDS with the Rays. Carlos Quentin and A.J. Pierzynski also homered in the win, while Gavin Floyd (2-1) allowed only two runs in seven strong innings, scattering six hits and striking out seven without issuing a walk.

Seven White Sox starters registered multi-hit games, with Brian Anderson getting a team-high three hits with two runs scored.

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer to account for the offense for Tampa Bay, which fell to 5-8 so far this season. Gabe Kapler had a pair of hits, and Matt Garza (1-1) was rocked for seven runs on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. He fanned four in the loss.

B.J. Upton stole third with one out for the Rays in the first, but Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena both struck out looking to strand the runner.

The White Sox grabbed the lead in the second on Pierzynski's two-out two-run homer to right.

Chicago extended its edge in the third. Singles from Anderson and Brent Lillibridge plus a Quentin hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. Thome made it 3-0 on an RBI groundout to plate Anderson.

Paul Konerko added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to score Thome, who had walked, and make it a four-run game. Three batters later, with two outs and runners on first and second, Anderson reached on an infield single; Jermaine Dye, who had doubled, scored on the play after Garza threw the ball away.

Lance Cormier relieved Garza, and Chris Getz promptly drove in two runs with a single to right, widening the lead to 7-0.

Chicago tacked on two more in the seventh, as Konerko and Wilson Betemit each had an RBI single in the frame.

Tampa Bay finally got on the board in the home half of the seventh with a two- run homer by Zobrist.

But the White Sox made it a laugher with three runs in the eighth, as Quentin launched a two-run shot and Thome made it back-to-back homers in the next at bat.

Game Notes

Five White Sox players had two RBI in the game...Upton left the game after two innings due to tightness in his quadriceps. He was 1-for-1 for Tampa Bay...Floyd pitched for Chicago in the fourth game of last year's ALDS between the clubs, as the Rays won the game to take the series....Chicago was 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position, while Tampa Bay was 0-for-9.