Toronto Blue Jays' Frank Thomas is greeted by Vernon Wells and Matt Stairs after belting his 500th home run at the Metrodome. Thomas hit a first-inning blast against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis ? Thankfully for Frank Thomas, his family had to catch an early flight Thursday.

That meant his wife, three children and father-in-law got to see Thomas hit his 500th home run. And they were gone when Thomas got ejected.

“They had to leave for the airport at 1:45. My daughter said, ‘Dad, you’ve got to do it in the first couple of at-bats,”‘ he said.

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

But in the ninth, Thomas was ejected 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 also got tossed.

“I’m probably the first to get 500 home runs and get thrown out of the ballgame,” Thomas said. “That’s something I didn’t want to happen, but the moment just got the best of me.”

“I’ve still got hunger and desire. You saw that in the ninth inning,” he said. “I still care. The game wasn’t over in my opinion, and I was up there to battle.”

Carlos Silva (6-8), who gave up Thomas’ milestone homer, was the winner, and Joe Nathan finished for his 15th save. Jason Frasor (1-3) took the loss.

Todd Eisenlohr, sitting in the fifth row, caught the ball in his glove.

“I lost it in the roof as it was coming down,” Eisenlohr said. He said he traded the souvenir ball for an autographed ball, bat and jersey.

Thomas said he plans to keep the ball unless it is wanted by the Hall of Fame.

Before the at-bat, Thomas looked at the scoreboard and saw that his average with runners in scoring position was .182.

“I said, ‘Let’s just get a hit right here.’ That’s when home runs happen, when you’re really not trying to do too much. He hung a slider over the corner, and I stayed with the pitch,” he said.

Tigers 5, Rangers 2

Detroit – Kenny Rogers allowed one run over six innings in his first home start since shoulder surgery, leading the Tigers to the win.

Todd Jones worked a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 23 chances.

Indians 4, Athletics 3

Cleveland – Jason Michaels hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Indians held on for the victory. Josh Barfield stole two bases.

White Sox 5, Devil Rays 1

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Javier Vazquez allowed one run in seven innings, and Paul Konerko hit a pair of solo homers.

Yankees 8, Orioles 6, susp.

Baltimore – The Yankees got out of town without another loss. But they didn’t get a victory, because their game against the Orioles on Thursday night was suspended by rain.

New York was leading in the top of the eighth when play was halted for the last time. It will be resumed on July 27.