In the handshake line after the White Sox won 3-1 at Yankee Stadium in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, manager Tony La Russa stopped outfielder A.J. Pollock — who homered in the ninth inning to put the Sox ahead — and said a real mouthful in two words.
“Thank you.”
Yes, indeed. The Sox needed a win against the soaring Yankees not only to have Tim Anderson’s back, not only to stick it to New York’s Josh Donaldson and not only because the Sox just can’t seem to find any sort of traction this season. They needed a win to fight against early signs that — kind of like the Bulls, come to think of it — they’re a talented group that might not be able to stack up against the big boys of the league.