Thomas joins elite 500-HR club with three-run blast against Twins

~ The 39-year-old Blue Jays slugger hit the milestone home run in Thursday's game.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Frank Thomas will remember the day he hit his 500th homer -- for reaching the milestone and getting ejected.

The Toronto slugger hit a three-run shot in the first inning of the Blue Jays' 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, becoming the 21st major leaguer to reach 500.

He also had an RBI double and tied his season high with four RBIs, then was ejected in the ninth inning by plate umpire Mark Wegner after being called out on strikes for the second time in the game. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons came out to argue and was also ejected.

Thomas came up after Matt Stairs' RBI single in the first and sent Carlos Silva's 1-2 pitch an estimated 396 feet into the left-field stands. A fan in the fifth row, wearing a jersey of Twins player Jason Bartlett, caught the ball in his glove. He was quickly escorted away by security.

The Metrodome crowd responded with a standing ovation for the two-time AL MVP. Thomas took his home run trot and then pointed toward the suites down the right-field line when he crossed the plate as Toronto players spilled out of the dugout to congratulate him.

Thomas hit his first career home run at the Metrodome against Gary Wayne while with the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 28, 1990. Thomas has 16 homers overall at the stadium.

The 39-year-old Thomas is in his first season with the Blue Jays. He played last year in Oakland.

Next on Thomas' ascent on the career home run list are Eddie Murray (504), Mel Ott (511) and Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews (512 each). Also within reach of 500 this year are Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez.

Thomas entered Thursday with four home runs in his previous 10 games. He has 13 this season. This was his second lifetime homer off Silva.

The Big Hurt has hit 50 career homers against the Twins.