CLEVELAND (AP) -- OK, the Chicago White Sox are for real. And get this, there's finally a real race in the AL Central, too.

Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer and Ray Durham had three RBI Monday night as first-place Chicago opened a three-game lead over Cleveland with an 8-7 victory over the Indians.

	White Sox closer Keith Foulke is congratulated by catcher Brook Fordyce after getting a game-ending double play.

"We need to keep pushing," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "If people don't believe, fine. But we have to stay driven if we're going to have a chance and stay competitive for the long haul."

Trailing 8-3 in the seventh, the Indians got within 8-7 in the ninth on Jim Thome's home run, but Keith Foulke got Sandy Alomar Jr. to hit into a game-ending double play.

The Indians, who left 14 runners on base Sunday, stranded seven more in the final three innings and went 1-for-9 with men in scoring position.

"We hit four home runs and all we needed was one single to win the game," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said.

Cal Eldred (7-2) pitched six effective innings for the White Sox, who hadn't been in first place during a visit to Jacobs Field since July 21, 1994. And the way Chicago is playing, it seems the White Sox are enjoying the view from atop the standings.

"On this team everybody steps up," said Eldred, 5-0 in his last six starts. "It's not the same guys every night. ... The good thing about tonight is that I see guys saying it's one win, it's in June and we've got a lot of work to do."

Chicago has won 10 of 12 and Monday began a stretch of 14 games where it will play the Indians seven times, and the World Series champion New York Yankees seven more.

Russell Branyan homered twice, and Travis Fryman, Kenny Lofton and Thome connected for the Indians, who have been in first place just 17 days this season after being there for 360 of a possible 362 days the past two years.

Foulke got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth to get his 15th save. Foulke gave up Thome's 16th homer and Enrique Wilson followed with an infield single. Foulke then walked Branyan and Richie Sexson to load the bases before getting Alomar to ground into a double play to end it.

Eldred said the ninth was tough to watch.

"It's worse when you're not playing," he said. "Your gut starts hurting."

Rookie Paul Rigdon (1-1) took the loss.

Trailing 8-3, the Indians scored twice in the seventh and had runners at second and third with none out.

But reliever Bob Howry struck out David Justice and Thome before getting Fryman on a tapper in front of the plate.

Fryman argued that catcher Brook Fordyce fielded the ball in foul territory and was ejected by plate umpire Chuck Meriwether.

"The ball checked back like a golf ball," Fryman said. "The way I saw it, it hit fair, came back in the batter's box and the catcher caught it. Chuck Meriwether didn't see it that way."

Branyan's second homer -- and sixth in 19 at-bats this season -- brought the Indians within 8-6 in the eighth, and again Cleveland had runners in scoring position.

But Howry retired Omar Vizquel on a fly to right and struck out Roberto Alomar with runners at second and third.

Durham's two-run double and Thomas' two-run homer gave the White Sox a 4-2 lead in the third.

With two outs, Thomas drove a 2-1 pitch from Rigdon 426 feet to left for his eighth homer in 14 games and 16th this season, one more than he had all last year.

Game notes
The Sox have won eight of their last nine road games and 12 of 16. ... Thomas' homer helped the White Sox tie a club record (1987) by homering in their 16th straight game. It also tied Thomas with Hall of Famer George Brett with 317 career homers, 76th on the career list. ... Thomas is batting .500 (8-for-16) with three homers and nine RBIs vs. Cleveland this season. ... Roberto Alomar's fiancee, French Open champion Mary Pierce, just back from winning her title Saturday in Paris, attended the game. ... Alomar said he'll continue to play through the pain in his left wrist as long as he can. He strained a tendon while making a check swing in Chicago last month and has been told by doctors that it will only get better with rest.