Knights' Anderson having May to remember

Tim Anderson is red-hot at the plate and he expects nothing less.

The No. 2 White Sox prospect collected three more hits Thursday -- his 15th multi-hit effort this month -- as Triple-A Charlotte edged Syracuse, 6-5, at NBT Bank Stadium.

"I felt good," Anderson said. "I was very confident at the plate. I've just been working at it and staying focused and just grinding it out."

The 22-year-old shortstop hit an RBI double to left field in the fifth inning against Chiefs starter Taylor Hill, which was sandwiched between a bunt single in the third and a single to left in seventh. The performance helped him run his International League-leading hit total to 60.

"I try not to pay too much attention to the numbers," Anderson said. "Every time at bat, I just feel very confident and I believe in myself. Every time I go up there, I feel like I'm going to get a hit or do something positive. I feel real great in the box."

MLB.com's No. 42 overall prospect raised his slash line for May to .387/.430/.528 over 24 games, including 20-for-48 (.417) in his last 10. Though Anderson is in his first season at the Triple-A level, he remains unsurprised by how quickly things have come together for him.

"I'm just very confident in myself and I know what I'm capable of," the Alabama native said. "I'm performing the way that I expect myself and that I've performed in the past."

Anderson possesses a history of quick starts at new levels, having never batted lower than .303 in the month of May. He believes that trend stems from his confident approach no matter what level he's at.

"I'm not afraid of any competition level," the 2013 first-round pick said. "They all do the same thing I do. They go out and play, they go out and pitch and hit and throw the ball the same way I do. That confidence level is just a boost, and I just feel really great about it."

And while he's been successful at the plate, Anderson hasn't taken his off-the-field work behind the surge for granted.

"I've just been getting in the cage and doing my work," he said. "Knowing the pitchers and being patient and getting that good pitch to hit. I'm believing in myself and being very confident.

"Just keep getting better every day, and just keep working hard and we'll see what happens."

Danny Hayes went 2-for-3 with a homer while Omar Narvaez added a double, a single and a pair of RBIs for Charlotte.

Blake Smith (2-0) struck out three and walked one over two scoreless innings of relief to claim the win, while Brad Goldberg gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth en route to his third save.

Syracuse reliever Nick Massett (0-3) allowed a pair of runs on two hits and two walks while fanning one in one inning.

No. 29 Washington prospect Matt Skole belted a two-run homer for Syracuse.