Anderson comes through for Sox
Just a couple years ago, Brian Anderson was on top of the world.
He was 24, coming off a World Series title and the starting center fielder of the future for the White Sox.
Funny how things don't always go as planned.
Two years later, Anderson found himself scrapping and clawing just to make the Sox roster out of spring training, but in the end secured himself a spot.
Now with a little less hair under his helmet and little less strut in his walk, Anderson finds himself in unchartered territory -- coming off the bench mainly as a defensive replacement and as an occasional spot starter.
"It's tough," Anderson said. "It's not something I'm used to but so be it. I'll be there when they need me."
They needed him big time Saturday and boy did Anderson deliver, belting a bases-loaded, two-out single off Randor Bierd in the ninth inning to give the Sox a 6-5 victory over Baltimore and secure a split of a day-night doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field.
"I'm really happy for him" said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "It's not easy the role he's doing right now -- playing once a week and batting here and there. It's not easy to handle when you're 26.
"I think everyone in the clubhouse is happy for him."
Anderson's 2 RBI Saturday were his first since September 2006 against Seattle.
"None of this would have been possible without the guys in front of me getting on," Anderson said. "The first two pitches were tough, but he left one out over the plate and I was able to connect."
It capped off a wild game in which Friday's starter, Mark Buehrle, was back on the mound starting. After going 6 pitches Friday, the veteran lefty went 6 innings Saturday and left with the Sox up 5-3, but the bullpen couldn't close the deal.
The Orioles tied things up in the seventh and loaded the bases in the ninth before closer Bobby Jenks wiggled out of the jam to set the stage for Anderson's heroics.
"The night game of a doubleheader is always the toughest," Anderson said. "That's a big win for us."
Things couldn't have started out any better than they did Saturday for Game 1 starter John Danks. The young lefty was perfect through five innings before Adam Jones ended the dream by reaching out and poking a single to center to lead off the sixth.
That brought the announced crowd of 23,043 -- about half of whom were actually on hand -- to its feet to salute Danks.
The good feelings didn't last long, however, because the next batter Danks faced, Guillermo Quiroz, roped a 2-2 delivery to the back of the Sox bullpen in about two seconds time.
"That was probably the worst pitch I threw in the game; probably the hardest changeup I threw and it didn't do anything and it was up and split the plate -- pretty much the perfect BP (batting practice) pitch," Danks said. "I had to get lucky for him not to hit that ball out."
The bullpen in general and Octavio Dotel in particular struggled the rest of the way as the Orioles rolled to a 5-1 win.
"I was upset with the way we went after it in the first game, the way were acting," Guillen said. "I wasn't happy how we went after the game. We were flat."
That all changed with one swing by the Kid.
Orioles 5-5, White Sox 1-6
On the mound: In the opener, John Danks had a perfect game through 5 innings before surrendering a 2-run homer in the sixth and eventually taking the loss to fall to 2-2. Octavio Dotel allowed 3 runs in relief. Friday's starter Mark Buehrle, pitched Saturday's nightcap and allowed 3 runs in 6 innings. Bobby Jenks survived a shaky ninth to pick up his second win of the season.
At the plate: Carlos Quentin extended his hitting streak to six games and added RBI in both ends of the day-night doubleheader, but the star of the night was little-used outfielder Brian Anderson who had a pair of hits and 2 RBI in the nightcap, including the game-winner in the ninth inning.
-- Mike Spellman