Tim Anderson was obviously feeling himself today.
As he began to round the bases after hitting his first home run of the year in the 8th inning , he spun around and clapped in excitement making sure he got the attention of his teammates in the dugout. A clear sign that the three year veteran is coming into his own as a leader in the White Sox clubhouse.
"As a leader you have to push the right buttons for your guys. I know they liked to see that from me today and we just want to build on these type of wins early in the season," Tim told me when I caught up with him in the clubhouse after a wild 10-8 win over the Mariners in today's Home Opener.
Tim welcomed his second daughter into the world two days ago and commemorated that with a 3 for 4 afternoon that included 3 RBI's and 4 runs. It's true this team hasn't been shy about them feeling like they have something to prove this year but Tim says it's his job to make sure the team stays focused on the right things. "We're still a young team. I want to make sure the culture we've been building stays progressing. Wins like this are always good for teams like us."
Tim wasn't the only "Good Guy" to have a big afternoon. Yoan Moncada stayed hotter than lava going 2 for 4 with 4 RBI's on the day and raising his batting average on the young season to .458. Showing off his clutch gene, Yoan, or #YoanWantNoProblems as I call him, made the most of two plate appearances with the bases loaded raking in a two-run double in the 1st inning and a two-run single in the 7th that helped the White Sox reclaim the lead after they lost their grip on an early 6-1 lead.
Wins like these only strengthen the "Ricky's Boys Don't Quit!" legend.
And if guys like Tim and Yoan can continue to turn the proverbial corner, we're in for at least an entertaining year.
GAME TAPE
Reynaldo Lopez didn't have his best stuff to say the least. Rick Renteria had a lengthy visit to the mound in the 5th inning to encourage Lopez to keep his composure after letting the Mariners creep within 2 runs after having a 6-1 lead in the 2nd inning. On the very next pitch he gave up a 2 run bomb to Ryan Healy that tied up at 6 runs a piece. He finished after going 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, 6 runs (all of them earned), 4 walks and racking up 5Ks.
32,000 fans came to see Eloy Jimenez make his White Sox home debut. He didn't have a hit going 0 for 4 on the day. But he did let his excitement to be in "The Bigs"(😉) when he joined first base coach Darryl Boston for a pregame turn up!
NEXT GAME
Lucas Giolito (1-0) is expected to take the mound versus the Mariner's Mike Leake (1-0). First pitch from Guaranteed Rate Field at 1:10.