Jim Thome hits a pair of homers to pass Mark McGwire for eighth place on the all-time career list with 584. The Twins designated hitter’s historic round-trippers, which he blasts in the third and fourth innings off Colby Lewis at Target Field, contribute to Minnesota’s 12-4 victory over Texas.

The Giants move within two games of the NL West-leading Padres with a 5 – 4 win over the Dodgers. Trailing 4 – 0 entering the 7th, the Giants hit four homers, the last a two-run blast by Juan Uribe off closer Jonathan Broxton in the top of the 9th, to secure the win. Meanwhile, the Padres continue their free fall, losing their 9th straight game, 6 – 2 at home to Colorado.

Meanwhile, the Rangers sign former All-Star P Mark Prior and assign him to AAA Oklahoma City. A month ago, Prior began a comeback with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League, during which he did not allow an earned run in 11 innings and struck out half the batters he faced. He will fail to make it back to the majors, however.

Jim Thome hits two homers to pass Mark McGwire and take over 9th place on the all-time list in the Twins’ 12 – 4 drubbing of Texas. Thome drives in 4 runs, and 3B Matt Tolbert adds two triples and 5 RBI to pace Minnesota’s attack. Carl Pavano wins his 16th of the year.