The Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman (5) is tagged out by Miami Marlins second baseman Starlin Castro after he tried to stretch his single in the seventh inning of Saturday night’s game in Miami.MIAMI – After being held out of the lineup to rest, Brian Anderson was ready when needed.
Anderson delivered with a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the seventh inning to help the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 Saturday night.
“It was kind of a reset,” Anderson said. “It helps your body, your legs get underneath you. I was relaxed for a day even if I had that one at-bat. I just tried to go in and have a good at-bat, especially in a situation like that. The pressure is not on me – it’s on the other pitcher.”
Anderson delivered his first career pinch-hit home run and his 10th homer overall this season with his shot to left field off Chad Sobotka for a 3-0 lead.
“That was huge,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s one of those games you’re walking a tight rope. Anything can happen, and you see what happened in the ninth with the leadoff homer. You still had some breathing room.”