Anderson warming up for Chicago White Sox
At the start of the homestand Friday, every Chicago White Sox hitter not named Avisail Garcia or Matt Davidson was cold, and runs were nearly impossible to come by.
The Sox were shut out in back-to-back games by the Cleveland Indians after returning from their first road trip of the season, but now the runs are coming in bunches.
"That's just the nature of the beast," manager Rick Renteria said after the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 10-5 on Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. "That's why we play the game of baseball. Anything can happen over the course of the long season. That's the beauty of baseball, good and bad."
After rolling the Royals 12-1 on Monday, the Sox have scored 10 or more runs in two straight games for the first time since May 26-27, 2012, against the Indians.
Everybody is hitting now, and that includes Tim Anderson.
The White Sox's 23-year-old shortstop was batting .159 heading into Sunday, but Anderson went 2-for-4 against Cleveland and followed up with a 3-for-5 showing against K.C.
Against the Royals on Tuesday night, Anderson came through with an RBI single, and he has raised his batting average to .211.
"Spring training, it counts, but then again it doesn't count," Anderson said. "Once you get to the season, everybody wants to get off to a great start, and that's tough. I feel like a lot of guys start off slow and then pick it up later on. After that first month, it starts to show. It starts picking up."
Nearing the end of the first month of the season, Anderson is getting himself back in a good place.
Joining the White Sox on June 10 of last season from Class AAA Charlotte, Anderson batted .283 while finishing seventh in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
He moved to the leadoff spot Sunday and instantly looked much more comfortable.
"I like it," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to set the table. Guys feed off positive things in that one hole and I feel like I'm going to be able to set the table."
With only 2 walks and 3 extra-base hits in his first 76 at-bats, Anderson still has plenty of room to improve.
"I'm not too worried about Timmy, to be honest," Renteria said. "He always puts the bat on the ball. I think over the last few days he's been getting a little more in sync, seeing pitches. When he gets good pitches to hit he's able to do some things.
"He's slowing it down a little bit. Maybe he's starting to find a little bit of his rhythm and timing."