The Braves defeated the Cubs 5-0 Tuesday behind a phenomenal outing from Ian Anderson. They’ve taken the first two of a four-game series against Chicago at Truist Park.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
1. Anderson allowed just one hit over seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight and walked one. After delivering a gem his last time out against the Yankees in New York, Anderson’s encore was even better.
“We had a good game plan going in,” he said. “I think I didn’t really get a good feel for my curveball until the third or fourth. I was pitching mostly with the life on my fastball and locating that and the change-up. Once I hit that point, I felt like I got into a groove and we did a good job staying on the attack and getting ahead of guys, besides that walk.”
Anderson looks every bit of an ace. In five starts, he has a 2.48 ERA while striking out 31 and walking 12 in 29 innings. The Braves’ rotation has underwhelmed, partly due to injuries, but Anderson has taken another step forward after a sensational debut campaign. He’s pitched 13-2/3 scoreless innings over his past two outings.
“His fastball command has been better,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s gotten a feel for his change-up and his curveball. Even when he didn’t have great command or feel, he still has a way of keeping you in the game and making pitches. But these last two have been really, really good. That’s for sure.”
2. Anderson is the first pitcher since 1920 to have three starts of at least six innings while allowing no more than one hit across his first 11 career games, according to the Braves. He achieved that benchmark twice before Tuesday, both in 2020: In his first career start against the Yankees, when he held them to one hit over six innings, and later in a Sept. 12 outing against Washington, when he allowed one hit over seven innings.
3. Outfielder Ronald Acuna smashed a 481-foot homer to open the scoring in the fifth inning. The solo shot was his first hit since April 17 (a five-game span). It was Acuna’s eighth homer, tying him with Philadelphia’s Rhys Hoskins for the major-league lead.
4. From MLB statistician Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports): Since Statcast began tracking data in 2015, Acuna has hit 25 of the Braves’ 54 homers clocked at 110 mph or faster.
“To hit a home run in any part of the game is an amazing feeling,” Acuna said via team interpreter Franco Garcia. “To me, that’s the best part of the game. So when you can hit a home run like that, it feels amazing. And to (add), I don’t concern myself with how far it goes out or how hard I hit it.”
5. The Mets and Phillies lost Tuesday. So the Braves, their 11-12 start and all, sit a half-game back of first place.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Stat of the game
481 (Acuna’s homer traveled 481 feet. It was the second-longest home run in the majors this season, trailing only Yermin Mercedes’ 485-foot blast.)
Quotable
“That’s the next step, being able to pitch deeper into ballgames. That’s something I want to take pride in.” - Anderson on his goal to routinely cover more innings.
Look-alike
Thomas Rhett, country music star and Valdosta native, was at the game and saw his look-alike Anderson shine. Rhett even acknowledged the common comparison on his Instagram, posting a video of Anderson on the mound and commenting, “People think we are related @Ian_Anderson15.”
Panda sighting
If anyone is curious how beloved Pablo Sandoval is by his teammates, check out their reaction to his pinch-hit RBI-single in the eighth inning. Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna and Guillermo Heredia were among the Braves losing their minds celebrating Sandoval’s success.
Up next
Huascar Ynoa starts for the Braves in the third of four games against the Cubs Wednesday. Ynoa allowed two runs over six innings in his most recent start April 23 against the Diamondbacks.
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