CHICAGO — Jim Thome's long three-run homer started it. Shortly after he returned to the dugout, the parade really got going.

Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning to tie a major league record and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals, 9-2, yesterday, completing a three-game sweep.

Thome and Konerko went deep on consecutive pitches from Joel Peralta, and Ramirez chased the right-hander with his 11th of the season. Robinson Tejeda entered and promptly gave up a longball to Juan Uribe, homerless in his previous 107 at-bats.

The back-to-back-to-back-to-back shots tied a major league record — the sixth time it's been accomplished.

"It was great. We kind of exploded," said Thome, whose homer was his 25th of the season and No. 532 for his career.

White Sox slugger Carlos Quentin extended a much more painful streak in the first inning, when he was hit by a pitch from Kyle Davies (5-4). Quentin has been plunked in his last six games and a major league-high 20 times this year.

Quentin is the only player since 1920 to be hit by a pitch in six straight games, according to Elias Sports Bureau."Carlos is a hit magnet. ... The way he hits, (he) stands over the plate," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Lance Broadway (1-0) allowed two run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings to win his first start of the season.

RAYS 7, ATHLETICS 6

Reliever Brad Ziegler's record scoreless streak was snapped at 39 innings on B.J. Upton's RBI double, and Carlos Pena homered leading off the 12th off Santiago Casilla (2-1) to give Tampa Bay the win over host Oakland.

TIGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 1

Edgar Renteria hit a tiebreaking two-run double in Detroit's five-run eighth inning and the Tigers avoided a four-game sweep by beating visiting Toronto. Armando Galarraga (11-4) pitched eight sharp innings for Detroit, allowing a run and six hits.

RED SOX 10, RANGERS 0

David Ortiz hit a three-run homer to highlight a nine-run second as host Boston completed a three-game sweep against Texas. Daisuke Matsuzaka (14-2) allowed six hits in seven innings for the Red Sox, who won their fourth straight to remain three games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay.

ORIOLES 11, INDIANS 6

Lou Montanez hit a tiebreaking double during an eight-run eighth inning, and Baltimore beat host Cleveland for a split in their four-game series. The Orioles sent 13 men to bat in the eighth, getting six hits and three walks.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DODGERS 3, PHILLIES 1

Hiroki Kuroda (7-8) allowed only two baserunners and struck out seven in seven innings as host Los Angeles completed its first four-game sweep of Philadelphia in 46 years. The Dodgers' win kept them tied with Arizona atop the NL West, and dropped Philadelphia one game behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East.

PADRES 3, BREWERS 2

Jake Peavy (9-8), the reigning Cy Young Award winner, allowed one run, four hits and struck out eight in seven innings and host San Diego snapped Milwaukee's eight-game winning streak. Ben Sheets (11-6) gave up three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

CUBS 11, BRAVES 7

Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano homered to help visiting Chicago complete its first six-game, season sweep of Atlanta since the rivalry began in 1876. Mark Kotsay went 5 for 5 and joined Albert Hall as the only Atlanta players to hit for the cycle.

METS 9, NATIONALS 3

Brian Schneider homered against his former team and Carlos Delgado also went deep to help New York finish a three-game sweep of host Washington. New York's Oliver Perez (9-7) allowed six hits, walked three and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings.

CARDINALS 3, MARLINS 0

Ryan Ludwick drove in three runs and Todd Wellemeyer pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning as St. Louis beat host Florida. Ludwick hit an RBI double in the third and a two-run homer in the seventh.

ASTROS 7, GIANTS 4

Lance Berkman hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as host Houston beat San Francisco for its eighth straight win. Houston completed a four-game sweep of the Giants and has won 16 of 20 overall.

DIAMONDBACKS 6, ROCKIES 2

Chris Snyder and Chris Burke hit consecutive homers in a five-run fifth inning, leading Dan Haren and Arizona to the win over host Colorado. Haren (13-6) pitched eight innings, giving up one run while striking out nine.

REDS 3, PIRATES 1

Rookie Chris Dickerson had three hits for Cincinnati and broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-out RBI double against host Pittsburgh. Javier Valentin homered for the Reds, who took two of three from the Pirates.