Lamont Marvels at Thomas' Skills as Batter

Frank Thomas' dramatic two-run home run Friday night won acrucial game for the White Sox and continued his blistering RBI pace,tying him with Detroit's Cecil Fielder for the league lead at 96.

Thomas leads the American League in RBI ratio (RBI to at-bats)and is fourth in home run ratio. He became only the 12th Sox to hit30 home runs in a season.

Manager Gene Lamont, who coached Barry Bonds, said he hasn'tseen a player who combines Thomas' power and patience at the plate.

"I don't know if I've ever seen anyone who came into the gamewith his kind of power and his patience at the plate, and hisrelative inexperience - he's only in his fourth season," Lamont said."It's almost an odd combination."

Lamont is as pleased with Thomas' improvement defensively atfirst base.

BACK IN ACTION: Ozzie Guillen started at shortstop Saturdayafter a day of tests Friday on his left ankle, which was injuredWednesday in a play at second.

Tests showed inflammation but no serious injury.

Guillen played defense in the ninth inning Friday but had hisankle taped tightly Saturday and was told by trainer Herm Schneiderto wear high-top spikes to provide extra support.

BELL BACK: George Bell was due back Saturday from Florida wherehe was going through his initial rehabilitation from arthroscopicknee surgery.

Bell will continue his rehabbing with the team.

BO AVAILABLE: Bo Jackson took batting practice again and wasavailable to hit if needed despite a bandaged right hand cut whilerepairing his motorcycle.

Jackson is scheduled to have the stitches removed Wednesday.

SECOND CHANCE: Steve Sax hadn't taken a ground ball at secondbase all year when Lamont inserted him there for defense in theeighth inning Friday.

But Lamont had told Sax he might be playing there before thegame.

"I knew the situation might come up because I was giving Frank(Thomas) a day off at first," he said. "I told the coaches I knewwhat I could run into, but when Ozzie said before the game he couldplay if I needed him, it made it easier."

As it turned out, Sax - who batted in the seventh as the DH -came out in the ninth, and had the Sox had to bat in the bottom ofthe ninth, pitcher Roberto Hernandez would have been at-bat since theSox DH had been pulled.

Lamont said he probably would have pinch hit for Hernandez hadthe situation occurred.

POSTSEASON TICKETS: The Sox, hoping to cash in on the pennantdrive, have announced a sales plan to purchase 1994 full seasontickets with the guarantee of seats to any 1993 postseason games atComiskey Park.

Split or bleacher season ticket-holders also can upgrade theircurrent plans to full 1994 tickets for guaranteed 1993 playoff seats.Information is available at 312-924-1000.

ACE VS. ACE: Jack McDowell will face the Red Sox' Roger ClemensTuesday in the first of the two-game series at Boston. Lamontdecided to keep to his pitching rotation despite Monday's off daywhen Wilson Alvarez would have been scheduled.

The plan keeps pitchers on their work schedule. The Sox haveindicated Alvarez will be recalled from Class AAA Nashville in timefor his next scheduled start, but Lamont could use Kirk McCaskill orJose DeLeon as spot starters if necessary.

FLOAT ON: Bo Jackson, Tim Raines, Lance Johnson and Ellis Burksrode in the Sox float in Saturday's Bud Billiken Parade.