The Big Hurt returned and promptly got hurt again.

In his first appearance in the major leagues since breaking a bone in his left ankle last July 6, Frank Thomas strained a hip flexor and left in the seventh inning yesterday as the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4.

Thomas, who went 0 for 2 with a walk, said his latest injury wasn't serious.

"I just felt a little twinge in the hip flexor," he said. "It was just one of those things you don't want to get out of hand by hitting a line drive and having to leg it out. It's a day-by-day situation, and I'm feeling good. I didn't want to go out on the first day and be down for two weeks."

Thomas, batting third as the designated hitter, had hit just .190 in 11 games during a minor league rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Charlotte. He received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 38,685 in the first inning, his first plate appearance since surgery last Oct. 6.

"That brought a tear to my eye," Thomas said. "The fans showed me how much they care, and that was big for me."

Thomas popped out in the first, walked and scored in the third and lined out to left in the fifth.

Timo Perez, just 5 feet 9, replaced the 6-5 Thomas in the seventh and hit a two-run single in the ninth that won the game for Chicago.

Meanwhile, the White Sox extended the contract of manager Ozzie Guillen, making the move while the team had the best record in the majors.

The White Sox picked up the 2006 option on Guillen's contract, added two more years and included an option for 2009.

Boston: Curt Schilling threw in the bullpen and hopes to resume pitching for the Boston Red Sox before the All-Star Game. Schilling wore a custom-made shoe on his right foot with a wider bottom to improve his balance. ... A moment of silence was observed before the game for J.P. Villaman, one of the Red Sox's Spanish language broadcasters who died in an auto accident early yesterday after accompanying the team on its charter flight from New York after Sunday's 7-2 win.

Kansas City: The Royals, who have the worst record in the majors at 13-37, fired hitting coach Jeff Pentland and replaced him with minor-league hitting instructor Andre David.

Los Angeles: The Angels signed top draft pick Jered Weaver to a minor-league contract after months of failed negotiations. No details of the terms were released. The agreement is pending Weaver passing a physical.

New York: Yankees pitcher Jaret Wright played catch in his first throwing session since hurting his right shoulder.

Oakland: The Athletics activated shortstop Bobby Crosby from the 15-day disabled list, and optioned struggling infielder Keith Ginter to AAA Sacramento.

Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays promoted RH reliever Chad Orvella from AA Montgomery.

Other baseball: Eight years after his last professional appearance, Oil Can Boyd, 45, returned to the low minors, pitching six solid innings in his Can-Am League debut for the Brockton Rox. The former Boston Red Sox star allowed two earned runs and seven hits in six innings, walking one batter, hitting another and striking out four to receive a no-decision in a 5-3 loss to the Worcester Tornadoes.

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