Law of The Plainsman (Yankees @ Braves, game 1, 8/26/20)

Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson may have needed to wait an extra 21 hours before taking the mound at Truist Park, outside Atlanta, to face the Yankees today, but the wait in this case was worth it.

Matched up against Yankee ace Gerrit Cole, who had won 20 straight decisions dating back to last season with Houston, Anderson didn't sweat the Bombers' lineup one iota in the first inning. History will record that his first strikeout came at the expense of Aaron Hicks to end the frame. And, oh, by the way, Yankee announcers Michael Kay & David Cone made with the Jethro Tull references before I could even think of something besides "Aqualung".

In the home half, Ronald Acuna, Jr. took Cole out of the yard to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Cole went on to strike out the next three batters, and a pitchers' duel was beginning to take shape. However, it wouldn't stay that way for very long.

In the Atlanta 3rd, Acuna walked, and Dansby Swanson turned a Cole breaking ball into a microwave dinner over the right field fence to make it 3-0. One out later, Marcell Ozuna blasted a solo homer that went almost as far as Acuna's shot two innings prior. It was 4-0 after three, and Cole's back was against the wall.

Anderson had only allowed a walk, a hit batsman, and had another runner reach on an error by Austin (Bus) Riley through five. In the Yankee 6th, Luke (AMF) Voit ended any hope of a no-hitter for the 2nd consecutive day, following Lucas Giolito's gem for the White Sox vs. Pittsburgh last night, with a solo shot to the opposite field. Anderson came back and got Hicks on a foul pop, then struck out Mike (Orange) Ford to end the inning.

Atlanta got the run back in the home half, and chased Cole after he gave up a double to Freddie Freeman and a walk to Ozuna. Nick Markakis greeted reliever Luis Cessa with a double, plating Freeman with the final run of the game.

Ex-Yankee Shane Greene pitched the 7th for Atlanta (doubleheaders are 7 innings each this year, a condition Anderson is familiar with), with Brett Gardner reaching on an error by Freeman, to secure the win, ending Cole's winning streak at 20 decisions, undefeated, with 8 no decisions tacked on, over the course of a year and change, 5-1.

Anderson went six innings, giving up just the one earned run and one hit, with a hit batsman, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Cole went 5, charged with all 5 runs on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts.

Mets fans, if Anderson gets to pitch in the final Mets-Braves series next month, be very afraid.