CINCINNATI (AP) -- Frank Thomas hadn't scored a run in so long that he forgot a personal milestone was at his fingertips.

	Frank Thomas led Chicago's fireworks with four runs and four RBI.

Thomas' three-run homer completed an early outburst against Ron Villone as the Chicago White Sox took a big lead Tuesday night and then held on for a 17-12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

It was the first time in 15 years a team scored 17 runs against the Reds. Atlanta was the last team to do it, rolling to a 17-9 victory in Cincinnati on May 1, 1985.

The teams combined for nine runs, 31 hits, three errors, 15 walks, one hit batter and one run-scoring wild pitch.

The White Sox scored 17 runs but had closer Keith Foulke warming up in the ninth after Dante Bichette hit his eighth career grand slam as part of a six-run rally.

"It was a crazy win," said Thomas, who drove in four runs and scored four. "No one gave in. They're in first place and they definitely showed the fight."

The White Sox reached new heights with their sixth victory in seven games. They improved the AL's best record to 34-23, moved 11 games over .500 for the first time since September 1996 and extended their stay atop the AL Central to a 50th day.

Chicago has shared or owned first place since April 19, leaving the five-time champion Cleveland Indians trying to catch up.

The loss dropped the Reds a half-game behind St. Louis in the NL Central and assured that the Reds' longest homestand of the season won't be a winning one. They're 5-6 with one game left.

"It was one of those nights," manager Jack McKeon said. "We couldn't stop them. If they didn't get hits off us, we walked them."

Chicago gave Villone (6-3) his second drubbing in six days, rolling to a 7-0 lead after only 1 1/3 innings. Last Thursday, the left-hander gave up a career-high eight runs in four-plus innings against Montreal.

Cal Eldred (6-2), off to his best start since 1992, gave up four runs, four hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings. He also reached in three of his four plate appearances -- on a walk, an infield single and an error -- and scored three times.

"The last time I ran the bases like that was probably in high school," Eldred said. "It was so long ago I don't remember too well."

Everyone ran the bases for Chicago, getting on at least once as the White Sox tied their season high with 19 hits. The White Sox also turned five double plays, one shy of the club record, to keep the Reds at bay.

After Chicago went up 13-1 in the top of the seventh, the Reds batted around in the bottom of the inning and again in the ninth for 11 runs.

"I've had a lot of practice in those games," said Bichette, referring to his years in Colorado. "What you do is try to get the most positives you can out of them. We came back and scored lot of runs. Other than that, we didn't get a whole lot out of it."

The tone was set by Villone, who gave up four runs in the first and left a two-strike pitch over the plate for Thomas in the second. He hit it for his 12th homer, ending Villone's outing.

Thomas, only 2-for-21 coming in, also had an RBI double and scored four times. Carlos Lee drove in four runs and had a career-high four hits.

Thomas reached a personal milestone when he scored in the first inning, becoming the sixth active player to have 1,000 runs scored, 300 homers, 1,000 RBI and 1,000 walks. The others are Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken, Fred McGriff and Harold Baines.

"I haven't been keeping up," Thomas said. "I read about it four days ago and haven't scored in a while."

Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-2 with a walk, dropping his average to .214. He provided the Reds' only lighthearted moment when he used a wrap-'em-up football move to break up a double play in the first.

With Barry Larkin at second and Griffey on first and one out, Bichette hit a grounder to Durham. The second baseman tried to tag Griffey and throw to first.

Griffey, who played football in high school, lowered his right shoulder into Durham's midsection and started to wrap his arms around his legs as he drove him backwards, preventing a throw to first.

Durham and manager Jerry Manuel vainly argued for an interference call from second base umpire Charlie Reliford while Griffey sat on the bench laughing.

Game notes
The White Sox have homered in 11 consecutive games, matching their best streak of the season. ... Eldred has won four consecutive decisions over his last five starts. ... The Reds topped 1 million in attendance on the 32nd date for which tickets were sold, matching the club record of 1993 for fastest to the mark. They didn't sell tickets for their makeup of an opening day tie. ... Bichette went 1-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.