Abbott Wins in Return

With baseball’s best team in town, Saturday didn’t seem like a logical time for former Angel Jim Abbott to make his first major league start in nearly two years.

However, almost two years to the day after his last victory, Abbott led the Chicago White Sox past the New York Yankees, 9-5.

“I never thought I’d be back,” Abbott, who once pitched a one-hitter for the Yankees, said after his first victory since Sept. 8, 1996.

“It hasn’t sunk in. The significance for me personally is a little overwhelming. There were a lot of people who supported me and backed me and encouraged me the last couple of years.

“There were times I’d say, ‘I don’t think it’s in the works’ and they’d say, ‘Stick with it.’ ”

Abbott had plenty of help from his White Sox teammates, from both expected and unexpected sources.

Albert Belle hit his 44th homer, his 26th since the All-Star break.

And 28-year-old rookie Craig Wilson homered and had two doubles in his major league debut.

“What a night for Craig,” Abbott said. “I hope he always remembers it.”

But this was Abbott’s night.

Out of baseball last season after going 2-18 for the Angels in 1996, he worked his way back through the White Sox’s minor-league system and was called up Thursday.

Backed by four double plays, he gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings in his first start since Sept. 26, 1996. He received a rousing standing ovation when replaced in the seventh after walking Scott Brosius.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever play the game again,” Abbott said, “and then to get an ovation and to pitch against the Yankees--those are all thrills I thought had passed.”