OAKLAND, Calif. | Frank Thomas couldn’t take part in Chicago’s World Series run a year ago. Now he’s doing his best to prevent the White Sox from making a bid for a second straight title.

Thomas dealt another big blow to his former team’s dwindling playoff hopes, hitting a three-run homer Sunday to help the Oakland Athletics beat Chicago 5-4.

“He had good at-bats and lifted their team a couple of times,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “He’s a guy when he’s swinging the bat he’s dangerous. He’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen. I think the big difference between winning and losing was Frank.”

Thomas homered twice and drove in seven runs in the final two games of Oakland’s three-game sweep. Chicago fell four games behind Minnesota in the wild-card race and remained five games behind AL Central-leading Detroit.

With only two weeks remaining, time is running short for the White Sox. They open a seven-game homestand Monday against Detroit and end the season with three games in Minnesota.

“We still get to play the teams in our division,” outfielder Jermaine Dye said. “As long as you have that, you still have a chance. We have to come out at our place and win at least five games and hopefully we can do that.”

The Associated Press