Shen’s Anderson now 3-0 in majors
Shen grad holds Nats to one hit in 7 innings for Braves
Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson allowed one hit in seven shutout innings in his fourth major league start to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
Anderson (3-0) permitted only a bunt single by Washington’s Asdrubal Cabrera to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. He struck out a careerhigh nine and walked three while throwing 99 pitches, 58 for strikes.
“It was a great learning experience,’’ Anderson said in a postgame Zoom call. “I think from here on out, every time I go out there, they’re all going to be learning experiences, no matter what the result is.”
It was a bounce-back performance for Anderson, who lasted only three innings in his previous start against Miami.
“I think the biggest thing was not compounding the mistakes,” Anderson said. “Against the Marlins the other day, I kind of compounded a little bit. Some things didn’t go my way. Today, I was kind of able to refocus and not compound the mistakes, like I said, and get back in there.”
Anderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2016 draft, issued walks to Eric Thames and Yan Gomes to start the second inning. But after a visit from pitching coach Rick Kranitz, Anderson retired the side and struck out Yadiel Hernandez swinging on a full count with a changeup to get out of the jam.
“Just don’t try to do too much,” Anderson said of Kranitz’s advice. “Trust your stuff … Take your time. No rush out there. He does a great job with all of that stuff. I think it shows.”
Anderson had the longest outing of his brief career, looking more like the pitcher who went six innings each in beating the Yankees and Red Sox in his first two big-league starts.
“He kind of got that confident look back tonight,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Once he got through that second inning, that was a pretty gutsy pitch to end that inning when he got himself in trouble. But then he got in a rhythm and it was clicking and he’s probably in one of those modes where he could have pitched all night.”
The NL East-leading Braves are now 27-19.