Why Sandy Alcantara was taken out in midst of shutout as Marlins suffer painful loss

[Kevin Barral]

MIAMI, FL — Sandy Alcantara took the mound in the top of the ninth inning with a 2–0 lead, aiming to become the fourth pitcher in Marlins franchise history to record back-to-back complete-game shutouts. After surrendering a double and a walk, manager Clayton McCullough made his most controversial move of the young season, removing his ace in favor of Anthony Bender.

Everything unraveled for Miami from there, as both inherited runners scored to tie the game at two. In extra innings, the Reds added four more runs to secure a 6–3 victory.

“(Anthony) Bender was the best person to win the game for us,” McCullough said. “Sandy had certainly gone above and beyond and threw great, but the decision didn’t work out. At that time, I thought the best way to win the game was going with Anthony.”

Alcantara, who has thrown 13 complete games—five of them shutouts—was coming off a complete-game shutout in his previous start. McCullough approached the mound in the ninth already set on making the change, with no discussion planned. After the game, Alcantara said he had not spoken with his manager.

“I deserved to be asked how I felt before I was taken out of the game,” Alcantara said. “I saw him coming out, and even before he crossed the line, he pointed to the bullpen. Negative thoughts crossed my mind, but those are things I can’t control. Tomorrow I’ll be here preparing for my next start and hoping things go differently.”

Through three starts, Alcantara has pitched into at least the seventh inning each time, but for him, it’s not about innings—it’s about pitch count.

“They are just innings, not pitches,” Alcantara said in Spanish.

He was at 95 pitches and set to face Sal Stewart for the fourth time, having struck him out in his previous at-bat. With runners on first and second and one out—and a 47.6% ground-ball rate—Alcantara had a strong chance to induce a game-ending double play. Still, McCullough opted not to let him face Stewart again.

“There are a lot of decisions over the course of a game and a season that weigh on you,” McCullough said. “For this one not to go our way certainly doesn’t feel great. Answering for it is part of the job, and I don’t feel good about how it finished. Losing the game is what stings the most.”

As McCullough walked to the mound, fans began to boo, voicing their frustration with the decision to pull the Marlins’ ace. He acknowledged the reaction afterward.

“We have passionate fans, and they care. They’re very invested in us winning games,” McCullough said. “They’re certainly within their right to be displeased when things don’t go our way.”

Overall, Alcantara finished the night going 8 ⅓ innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits, two walks and struck out six. His fastball topped out at 99.5 mph, which he hit in the top of the first inning.

The changeup was once again his most dominant pitch, generating six whiffs and striking out four with it. His four-seam fastball, which he threw 17.1% of the time in 2025, was his most used pitch on Tuesday, and has been his second-most-used pitch overall. He struck out two with the four-seam and landed it nine out of ten times for a first pitch strike.

"I've been doing a great job," Alcantara said. "Doing my work in the 'pen, trying to locate my four-seam, and today was great. Threw a lot of four-seam today for strikes from both sides."

Because of McCullough's move, Dontrelle Willis remains the only Marlins pitcher to throw nine-inning shutouts in consecutive starts, which he did on April 8 and April 13, 2005.

On the offensive side, the Marlins did provide early run support for Alcantara, as both Otto Lopez and Heriberto Hernandez had RBI groundouts, taking a 2-0 lead. The next time Miami scored a run came in the bottom of the tenth inning, when Graham Pauley grounded into a fielders choice, scoring Jakob Marsee, the runner at third. Miami's offense was 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position, unable to provide a bigger cushion for their ace.

Marsee, who had gotten off to a slow start in 2026, finished with his first multi-hit performance of the season, highlighted by a 109.0 mph base hit, his hardest hit ball of the season. On the base paths, he also had four stolen bases, which tied a franchise record.

The Marlins dropped to 6-5 on the season, now searching for a series split against the Reds. Eury Pérez, who struggled in his last start against the New York Yankees, will take the mound for Miami on Wednesday at 6:40 pm.

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[Shawn]

New year same story, that was Sandy game to finish. If he gave up the two runs so be it he earned the right to finish. There’s nobody in that bullpen better than Sandy. I count this as two loses caused by bullpen management. The other being game two of the Yankees series. Perterson setup and not bringing in Fairbanks when he walked the loaded being the other. 

[2qbn]

If this team wants to take the next step then they need to get their @$$ chewed out when they do dumb sh1t. I hope skipper and the analytics department is proud of themselves with two runs over two games, completely blowing amazing pitching performances. Why in the ever living bleep is Slater still leading off? Why are we playing hitters who are ice cold just because they bat from a certain side of the plate while sitting our hottest hitters? Two runs over two days. Marlins should be leading this series 2-0. I get the calling pitches from the dugout is working, but don't always try to be the smartest guy in the room. Cono!

 

I am enjoying Gus and his ABS calls. Dude is showing the eye of the tiger. 

 

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I'm controlling myself vis-à-vis Alcántara's removal. 

Putting together some thoughts on the ABS system. MLB wants us to collectively gulp and exhale air as the challenge is announced and the result displayed. 

I assume there are continuously updated statistics on the process - number of challenges, overturned percentage, use by innings, etc. 

[Hippyboi]

Pulling Sandy without a discussion showed him no respect. We lose and it can't help where Sandy's head is at in the long run.

Up 2-0 Marsee should have been running after his lead off walk in the 8th.

[Asfinsman]

Before the 9th inning goof ball move 

we leave 2 guys leading us in RBI’s 

a total of 21 RBI’s on the bench . Hicks and Cassie. Play your best players please 

[Jose Herrera]

I'm happy this is going on sooner rather than later. So far we have had good problems this season.

[1993 fan from start]

it felt like a lost from start with Javier Sanoja at 3b .  it was Sandy game.  and would have been if Peter Fairbanks was their.  and you not getting the problem its also a offence problem. 

[Saul Goodman]

If you do not trust your franchise player there and wonder "why is attendance low?" and "why do former marlins players trash our organization?" it is management just frankly not caring. Another year of collecting the revenue sharing checks and giving the fans a giant middle finger. So sick of it. 

[jlgarsh]

It's not just the constant teardowns, but also the inexplicable decisions that seem to be generated by an algorithm instead of a human being. Plus not even looking Sandy in the eye and having a conversation with him before signaling to bring in Bender.

Bender was 15/27 in career save opportunities (prior to last night's meltdown). He had a 9.82 ERA to boot.

On what plane of the multiverse does that make him a better option than Sandy? Tyler Phillips was pretty good in a closer/setup role last year, but now they're using him as long relief? It makes absolutely no sense.

Also, Clayton needs to man up and manage the team. Having different lineups vs. RHP and LHP is a joke. Let your prospects start. Hoq are we going to know if Cassie can hit lefties if they don't even give him an opportunity? If the computer spits out a garbage lineup, McCullough needs to rip it up and tell Bendix he's starting his best 9 players.

What are Jiminez and Slater doing on this team, other than taking ABs away from young guys who might actually be quality MLB players? There's a reason Slater was available right before the year started. Norby is a disaster at 1B, and needs to not play there ever again. It's just maddening.

[1993 fan from start]

What are Jiminez and Slater doing on this team, other than taking ABs away from young guys who might actually be quality MLB players? There's a reason Slater was available right before the year started. Norby is a disaster at 1B, and needs to not play there ever again. It's just maddening. don't forget about Agustín if you are going their also. It include everyone. Agree Slater was a poor choice.   I would weather gave one of our minor leagure who has more power and speed a change.   

[Hippyboi]

Agree on Norby's defense. Last night he didn't stretch toward the throw and turned an out into an infield single, but no error affecting his fielding %.

Troy Johnston has a .954 OPS while Morel gets paid to watch, while being paid more. That is still my biggest head scratching move.