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Recap: Rangers , White Sox
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Game: 0
Venue:
Date: March 14, 2009 4:05 PM EDT
  

PHOENIX (AP) -Brian Anderson hopes this is the year he develops into a big-time hitter.

A defensive whiz who has been inconsistent at the plate for the White Sox, Anderson sure looked good Saturday. He hit two home runs, including a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Chicago an 8-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

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Anderson is locked in a competition with DeWayne Wise for the starting center field job. Jerry Owens seems to be trailing.

If Wise wins the job, Anderson could be the fourth outfielder because of his fielding prowess. But he's hoping to burst on the scene this season as a hitter.

He pointed to St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who emerged suddenly last year as an elite hitter.

``There are guys like Grady Sizemore who do it every year. They are the ones who impress me the most. I want to be like those guys,' Anderson said.

Anderson got off to a slow start in spring training, but he said he wasn't worried as he worked with coaches and tried to tweak his swing until he got to the point where he felt comfortable.

``I like the way I feel right now,' he said.

He had to like the way he felt with one out in the bottom of the ninth, when he sent a pitch from Brennan Garr over the left-field bullpen to break a 4-all tie.

``This is really cool,' Anderson said. ``It was a good pitch to hit, so I tried not to do too much.'

The Rangers got a nice start from Matt Harrison, even though the left-hander is still trying to find his changeup. Harrison, who had a 9.00 ERA heading into game, gave up one run and four hits while striking out four in four innings.

``I threw a lot of cutters today trying to find that release point,' he said.

He's been working since last year on the cutter as an out pitch against left-handed batters.

Harrison gave up a solo homer to Anderson and a double to Jermaine Dye on changeups.

``I can't seem to put it where I want,' Harrison said. ``The more I throw it, I'll get back into it and be comfortable with it again.'

Dye also hit a solo homer off Jason Jennings. Dye entered the game with just a .200 spring average. All five of his hits had been singles, and he didn't have an RBI.

Also for the White Sox, starter John Danks bounced back from a rough outing with five innings of effective work. He gave up three hits and one run while striking out three.

Chicago's starters generally have been impressive, and Danks indicated he doesn't want to be perceived as falling behind the others.

``I'm glad they let me go back out there for the fifth,' said Danks, who was knocked around on Monday, when he lasted only two innings.

Notes: Chicago RHP Jose Contreras, coming back from rupturing his Achilles' tendon in August, is set to make his Cactus League debut Sunday against Seattle in Peoria. Contreras, a potential member of the rotation, hadn't been expected back until midseason. But he's months ahead of schedule. ... RHP Bartolo Colon, another potential starter, is expected to make his debut Monday at home against Kansas City. He's coming back from offseason elbow surgery. ... The Rangers' bullpen was limited because reliever C.J. Wilson developed a blister during morning workouts and didn't make the trip. ``We ended up having to bring those kids in at the end,' manager Ron Washington said, referring to Zach Phillips and Garr, who gave up five runs in the ninth. ... For the White Sox, Wilson Betemit hit his third homer of the spring.

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