Ian Anderson shuts down Marlins in 2-0 Braves’ win

The Atlanta Braves pushed their NLDS lead to 2-0 over the Miami Marlins with a 2-0 win Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

it took a moment for Ian Anderson to lock in as he needed 24 pitches to escape the first. Anderson struck out Corey Dickerson and Jon Berti to open the game. He then allowed a single to Jesus Aguilar and walked Brian Anderson before Garrett Cooper lined out to right to end the frame. He settled in from there and sat down the Marlins in order in the second.

The Braves put a run on the board in the second when Dansby Swanson connected on a 1-2 fastball from Pablo Lopez and drove it over the yellow line in left-center to put Atlanta on top 1-0.

Anderson continued to roll and retired eight straight hitters at one point. Brian Anderson yanked a one-out double down the line in the fourth but Ian Anderson got Garrett Cooper and Matt Joyce to fly out to strand the runner at second.

Atlanta tacked on another run in the fourth when Travis d’Arnaud took Lopez deep to extend the lead to 2-0.

Anderson continued to hold the Marlins in check, setting them down in order in the fifth. He got Dickerson to ground out for the first out of the sixth before allowing a single to Berti. He then won a 10-pitch at-bat striking out Aguilar for the second out.

That was the end of the line for Anderson as Brian Snitker emerged from the dugout and called for Darren O’Day. Anderson exited with another stellar performance, allowing three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

The inning wouldn’t end without some drama as O’Day was brought in to face Brian Anderson and Cooper if needed, with both being right-handed hitters. He promptly hit Anderson and then walked Cooper to load the bases. That brought former Brave Matt Joyce, a lefty batter, to the plate. Joyce ended up swinging at the first pitch and grounding out harmlessly to Freddie Freeman for the final out, affording the Braves and their fans a sigh of relief.

After Tyler Matzek worked a scoreless seventh, Will Smith came on for the eighth to face Dickerson, who grounded back up the middle. The ball bounced off Smith but went to Swanson, but the latter booted it. Jon Berti then dropped a fly ball that Nick Markakis couldn’t quite get to, but he made a great throw to second to force Dickerson for the first out. Smith then struck out Aguilar for the second out and got Anderson to tap back to the mound for end the threat. Mark Melancon worked an uneventful ninth to seal the win, with Miguel Rojas bouncing back up the middle to Ozzie Albies for the final out.

Atlanta managed just four hits on the afternoon but made the most of them with the solo homers. Ronald Acuña Jr. had a forgettable day overall, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

The series will continue Thursday as Atlanta will look to complete the sweep with Kyle Wright on the mound. Miami will counter with right-hander Sixto Sanchez.