Anderson dazzles in debut, Braves end Cole streak, top Yanks
ATLANTA - Ian Anderson dazzled in his big league debut, holding the Yankees hitless into the sixth inning and ending Gerrit Cole's 20-game winning streak as the Atlanta Braves beat New York 5-1 Wednesday to open a doubleheader.
Ronald Acuna Jr. celebrated his return to the lineup by leading off with a 473-foot drive against Cole.
Anderson (1-0) gave a depleted Atlanta rotation a huge boost. The 22-year-old right-hander, the third overall 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 in six innings. He struck out six and walked two. Shane Greene worked the seventh.
Anderson opened the game with two strikes to Mike Tauchman and never seemed rattled.
"Early on definitely there were some nerves going but I think it was a good nervousness and excitement to prove myself a little bit," Anderson said.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 25: Ian Anderson #48 of the Atlanta Braves smiles as he heads to the dugout in the fifth inning of game one of the MLB doubleheader against the New York Yankees at Truist Park on August 26, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tod
Anderson was promoted to the majors on Tuesday before his scheduled debut was postponed because of rain. He showed up with a new beard that surprised manager Brian Snitker.
"I didn't recognize him," Snitker said. "When he came in the office with a mask on, I didn't know who the hell he was."
Dansby Swanson and Marcell Ozuna also homered off Cole (4-1), who suffered his first loss in the regular season since May 22, 2019, with Houston.
"It seemed to be a little bit feast or famine in terms of good command for a period of time and then some bad command in some bad spots," Cole said.
Cole was trying to become the first AL pitcher to win 21 straight regular-season decisions. The all-time record is 24 by Carl Hubbell, followed by Roy Face (22) and Cole, Roger Clemens, Jake Arrieta and Rube Marquard tied at 20.
Cole had been unbeaten in 28 consecutive regular-season starts -- Clemens holds the mark with 30. Cole's only loss in 15 months had come in the World Series opener last year with Houston against Washington.
The Yankees newcomer gave up five runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in five-plus innings.
"A couple of pitches back and it's very much a dominant, Gerrit outing," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Cole was lifted after giving up a double to Freddie Freeman and a walk to Ozuna with no outs in the sixth. Nick Markakis hit an RBI double off Luis Cessa.
Acuna pulled a 97 mph fastball into the left-field seats to open the first. It was Acuna's longest homer and the longest by any Braves batter at Truist Park, which opened in 2017.
Swanson hit a two-run homer after Cole walked Acuna in the third inning. With two outs in the inning, Ozuna crushed his eighth homer 469 feet to left-center.
Boone said the 31-year-old Brantly, a career .228 hitter in six seasons, "gives us some protection as we head into the trade deadline" on Monday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Boone said OF Aaron Judge (strained right calf) would start in the second game after being activated from the injured list on Tuesday.
Braves: The outfield received a boost with the returns of Acuna (wrist) and Markakis (possible exposure to COVID-19). Acuna missed two weeks.
DISBELIEF
Anderson felt like a fan watching Acuna's long homer.
"That's just fun to watch," Anderson said. "I couldn't believe ... even still now in disbelief how far he hit that and in a big spot against Cole. He's a great player."