Anderson's 2nd career HR lifts Bucs in G1

Pirates left-hander Tyler Anderson only had two hits -- both singles -- in 32 at-bats this season entering his start in Game 1 of Saturday’s seven-inning doubleheader against the Mets at Citi Field.

But the starting pitcher’s aggressive hack and deep swat to right-center field was the difference in the Bucs’ 6-2 win.

With two outs in the fifth after Cole Tucker grounded into a double play, Anderson -- who held the Mets to two runs in five innings -- swung at a 1-1 cutter from Marcus Stroman and blasted it a Statcast-projected 396 feet to break a 2-2 tie. It marked the second career home run for Anderson and first since July 9, 2016, in his rookie season, when he slugged a game-tying homer against the Phillies … at Coors Field.

“That’s the first thing when you take BP in Spring Training,” Anderson said. “Guys are like, ‘You have a homer?’ And you’re like, ‘Yeah.’ They’re like, ‘Oh, where?’ ‘Coors.’ And everyone is like, ‘Oh, of course.’ So hopefully now I can say I got one on the road somewhere else, too.”

Anderson’s shot traveled a projected three feet further than Bryan Reynolds’ two-run homer the next inning, which gave the Pirates a comfortable lead. It was nearly the second deep drive of the day for Reynolds, but he was robbed of a home run in the first inning by Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo.

So Anderson wasn’t so certain he was going to be able to call his cut a home run off the bat. He’d have to wait a few seconds for confirmation.

“As soon as I hit it, I was hoping it would get over the outfielder’s head,” Anderson said. “They were catching home runs earlier in the game, so once I thought it had a chance, I was just hoping it didn’t get caught still.”