Ian Anderson Dazzles in Debut

By on August 27, 2020

Not many MLB debuts will possess the pizzazz of Atlanta’s Ian Anderson. The 22-year-old righty from Clifton Park, NY dazzled in his big league debut yesterday, outdueling $324 million-man Gerrit Cole and defeating the New York Yankees.

This loss ended Cole’s 20-game winning streak as the Atlanta Braves beat New York 5-1 Wednesday to open a doubleheader.

The Braves made Cole look like the rookie, hitting three homers off him in the victory at Truist Park. While the Braves teed off on a Cy Young winner, Anderson held the Yankees hitless across his first 5-1/3 innings. It was the longest no-hit bid by a Braves pitcher in his debut since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966.

“I probably won’t take this smile off my face for a long time,” said Anderson, who appeared as calm and collected in his postgame interview as he was on the mound.

Anderson (1-0) gave a depleted Atlanta rotation a huge boost. The overall third pick in the 2016 draft, didn’t allow a hit until Luke Voit connected for his team-leading 11th homer with one out in the sixth. That was the only hit Anderson allowed all afternoon.

“Early on, there were definitely nerves going,” Anderson said. “It was a good nervousness, an excitement to get out there and prove myself. As the game went on they settled down, and I was able to get into a groove. It went well.”

His final stat line for the day reads: six innings pitched, one earned run, six strikeouts and two walks before being relieved by Shane Greene in the seventh. Anderson threw 90 pitches total, with 55 of those being strikes.

While he wished his family and friends could’ve attended, Anderson acknowledged that pitching in an empty Truist Park might’ve been to his benefit.

“I definitely think it helped me relax,” Anderson said. “I haven’t gotten a chance to ask anyone what it’s like with fans in the stands. That’s what I was going to do after. But it helped me relax and realize it’s still the same game. That helped me a bit.”

Anderson was promoted to the majors on Tuesday before his scheduled debut was postponed due to rain. This was the first of what could be many memorable starts in his Braves career.

EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO
First day in camp to MLB win in debut! (Ian Anderson Leaving Clubhouse First Day in Camp) EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO

Yankees Hitting

HITTERSABRHRBIBBKAVGOBPSLG
M. TauchmanRF300000.315.383.407
L. Voit1B311100.312.384.753
A. HicksCF300001.200.356.400
M. FordDH200011.167.234.357
G. Urshela3B300000.247.323.494
G. SanchezC300001.127.244.352
B. GardnerLF301002.172.290.362
T. Estrada2B100000.250.294.438
a – M. AndujarPH100000.091.130.091
T. WadeSS100011.192.300.269
TEAM2312126
a-lined out to left for Estrada in the 7th
  • BATTING
  • HR: Voit (11, 6th inning off Anderson 0 on, 1 Out)
  • RBI: Voit (21)
  • GIDP: Urshela
  • Team RISP: 0-2 (Urshela 0-1, Tauchman 0-1)
  • Team LOB: 4
  • BASERUNNING
  • SB: Wade (1, 2nd base off Anderson/Flowers)

YankeesYankees Pitching

PITCHERSIPHRERBBKHRPC-STERA
G. Cole (L, 4-1)5.0555293103-623.51
L. Cessa1.010002014-94.66
TEAM6.06552113117-71
  • PITCHING
  • WP: Cole
  • First-pitch strikes/Batters Faced: Cole 0/22; Cessa 4/4
  • Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In play strikes: Cessa-3-2-2-2
  • Ground Balls-Fly Balls: Cole 4-2; Cessa 1-0
  • Game Scores: G Cole 44

BravesBraves Hitting

HITTERSABRHRBIBBKAVGOBPSLG
R. Acuna Jr.CF221110.265.383.559
D. SwansonSS311202.319.352.509
F. Freeman1B311001.303.425.545
M. OzunaDH211111.282.380.563
N. MarkakisRF302100.378.439.649
A. DuvallLF300002.247.298.442
A. Riley3B300002.198.250.370
T. FlowersC300002.333.455.556
J. Camargo2B200001.182.226.352
TEAM24565211
  • BATTING
  • 2B: Markakis (7, Cessa); Freeman (10, Cole)
  • HR: Ozuna (8, 3rd inning off Cole 0 on, 2 Out); Swanson (4, 3rd inning off Cole 1 on, 1 Out); Acuña Jr. (5, 1st inning off Cole 0 on, 0 Out)
  • RBI: Markakis (7), Ozuna (20), Swanson 2 (18), Acuña Jr. (10)
  • 2Out RBI: Ozuna
  • Team RISP: 2-5 (Markakis 1-1, Flowers 0-1, Duvall 0-1, Swanson 1-1, Riley 0-1)
  • Team LOB: 3
  • BASERUNNING
  • SB: Acuña Jr. (2, 2nd base off Cole/Sánchez)
  • FIELDING
  • E: Riley (6, throw)
  • DP: 1 (Swanson-Camargo-Freeman)

BravesBraves Pitching

PITCHERSIPHRERBBKHRPC-STERA
I. Anderson (W, 1-0)6.011126190-551.50
S. Greene1.010000010-50.68
TEAM7.0211261100-60
  • PITCHING
  • HBP: Estrada (by Anderson)
  • First-pitch strikes/Batters Faced: Greene 2/4; Anderson 18/22
  • Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In play strikes: Greene-1-0-0-3; Anderson-17-12-13-12
  • Ground Balls-Fly Balls: Greene 1-2; Anderson 7-5
  • Game Scores: I Anderson 70
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