One more Mister Twice Guy

Another victory against an elite American League team was nice, but White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has set the bar.

A .500 record won't get it done in the AL Central, and neither will a handful of wins above .500.

"Right now, the way our division plays, you don't know how many games you have to be over .500, but .500 is not going to win it,'' Guillen said Wednesday. "Five games over .500 is not going to win it. You've got to be better than that. I truly believe that.''

So rather than pat his team on the back after a 6-2 victory against the Los Angeles Angels, Guillen played philosopher.

''Every time I look at the team we play across, I don't go, 'Wow, that's a team we can't beat,''' Guillen said. ''I think I feel pretty comfortable with the team we have, the way we compete. Sometimes we lose against teams that we're supposed to beat, but [I feel] pretty good, very good.''

The Sox (56-52) improved to 32-30 against teams with winning records. No easy feat against the Angels, who began the week as winners of eight in a row on the road and 17 of their last 20.

''It's just one of those things when you look at the game, it's just nice to contribute, especially against a team like this,'' said Jim Thome, who hit two home runs in a game for the 44th time in his career.

The fact that the Angels (63-42) had been red-hot didn't seem to matter to righty Gavin Floyd, who has gone from early-season staff enigma to second-half ace. Floyd has beaten Minnesota, Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Angels since June 24, so it isn't like he has been feasting on the bottom feeders, either. Just don't ask him to explain his roll.

''I don't worry about rolls,'' Floyd said. ''Whether it's a good outing before or a bad one, I kind of ignore it and move on, knowing you've got to do a job and try to just forget what happened the start before. I just try to be consistent and whatever I have that day, go out and battle.''

Floyd went eight-plus innings and allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits.

''When he's attacking the strike zone, he's one of the best guys out there,'' Guillen said. ''He's got a great arm. When he throws strikes, he's pretty tough.''

And Thome's powerful performance didn't hurt.

Angels righty Sean O'Sullivan entered the game 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA and looked strong through the first three innings, but he didn't hold up.

With the Sox down 1-0 in the fourth, Thome connected on his first homer. After an RBI single by Jayson Nix in the fifth, Thome gave Floyd (9-6) some breathing room, connecting on a three-run shot in the sixth that put the Sox up 5-1. It was Thome's 20th of the season and the 561st of his career, leaving him two behind Reggie Jackson for 12th on the all-time list.

''Jimmy, everyone knows that he can carry a ballclub,'' Guillen said. ''When he's on, there's no doubt he can carry any club in baseball.''

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THE RECAP

At the plate

Paul Konerko hit his 21st home run and Jayson Nix contributed an RBI single, but the night belonged to Jim Thome, who had his 44th career multihomer game. Thome has hit three homers on this homestand.

On the mound

Right-hander Gavin Floyd was dominant. He went eight-plus innings and allowed two runs (one earned) to win his third consecutive decision.

Pivotal point

With the Sox nursing a 2-1 lead going into the sixth, Thome turned the game around with his second homer.

Photo: Tom Cruze, Sun-Times / Jermaine Dye congratulates Jim Thome after his three-run homer in the sixth inning. ; Photo: Tom Cruze, Sun-Times / Righty Gavin Floyd picked up his ninth victory. ;