PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Some of the Pittsburgh Pirates challenged rookie Jimmy Anderson to prove he belonged in the major leagues. He took a step in that direction on Saturday.

Anderson allowed five hits in eight innings and Kevin Young hit a two-run homer in the seventh as the Pirates beat the New York Mets 2-0.

Young was one of the veterans who publicly questioned Anderson's work ethic when the Pirates chose to make the left-hander their No. 5 starter and released Pete Schourek. Brian Giles was also outspoken about whether Anderson took his major league status for granted.

"I always thought I could pitch up here," Anderson said. "My focus is to go out and help the team win games every time. That's my main priority. I'm trying to do the best I can. There's not even a question about that. What was said is behind me."

It's in the past for Young, too.

"I think it was blown out of proportion, really," Young said. "Jimmy is a competitor and we all want to win. He's staying focused. Now the next step is to do it on a consistent basis."

Anderson (1-0) gave up five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings to Arizona in his first start of last Saturday. He walked one, hit a batter and struck out five.

Mets catcher Todd Pratt gave him an indirect compliment by comparing him to Braves star Tom Glavine.

"He makes the hitters unsure if the pitch is a ball or a strike and that's what Glavine does," he said. But Pratt also added, "We should beat that guy."

Mets starter Glendon Rusch (0-1) had allowed just two hits through six innings in his first appearance of the year.

Giles then opened the seventh with a single, breaking a stretch in which Rusch had retired 12 consecutive batters. Young followed by hitting a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall for his second home run in as many games.

Mike Williams pitched the ninth for his second save.

The game was played in just 1:57 after Friday's 10-inning game ran 4:10.

"That's the pace I try to work at all the time," Rusch said. "I like to work fast."

The Mets opened the game by getting two of the first three batters on base but Todd Zeile lined out and Jay Payton struck out to end the first.

With a day game following the 12-inning night game, Mets manager Bobby Valentine chose to rest Mike Piazza, who had the first five-hit game of his career Friday night.