Marlins' bats erupt to back Alcantara's quality start, win the series opener

[Isaac Azout]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Marlins’ bats seemed to respond nicely to the cool California air. In the opener of their first West Coast trip of the season, Miami’s offense came to life in a big way, giving its ace ample run support en route to its 13th win of the year. On Friday night, with temperatures hovering in the low 50s, the Marlins put up nine runs on 16 hits, routing the San Francisco Giants 9-4.

Miami is back at .500 for the first time since April 14.

“Up and down the lineup, we forced [Adrian] Houser over the plate and we were ready to go,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said postgame. “Our swing decisions tonight were outstanding. It was really just an offensive clinic.”

The Marlins jumped on Giants starter Adrian Houser early. With two outs and a run already in, Liam Hicks launched a two-run shot into the right-field bleachers, giving Miami a 3–0 lead before Sandy Alcantara even took the mound.

A couple of innings and a couple more runs later, with two men on, Connor Norby crushed a three-run homer to make it 8–0. The ball traveled 418 feet to left-center, the fourth-longest home run of his young career.

Norby, who as recently as last week made a mechanical tweak to his batting stance—holding his hands farther from his chest—has already started to see results, homering twice in that span.

“Started in Atlanta, just trying to get some rhythm. I’m still working through some timing, but it’s a way for me to keep my back hip less stagnant and not so tense,” Norby said.

 

 

Miami racked up 11 hits through just four innings against Houser, who was chased early. His season ERA rose to 7.36.

In the top of the sixth, following a three-run frame by San Francisco against Alcantara—more on that later—Otto Lopez delivered an RBI single to extend the Marlins’ lead to 9–3, which at the time felt like a crucial insurance run.

“They made a little push there, and for him to come up with that knock with two outs, slow things down a bit and push the lead back to six was huge. It’s what Otto has done all season,” McCullough said.

In total, the Marlins piled up 16 hits, tying a season high. Every player in the starting lineup recorded at least one hit.

“We’re sneaky good,” Norby said of the offense. “When we’re playing like that—and it doesn’t always have to result in a hit—just the toughness of the at-bat, making a pitcher work and throw two or three extra pitches, it takes a toll. The competitiveness and grinding out at-bats always makes a difference throughout a series.”

When asked how difficult it will be to stubbornly adjust the lineup for Saturday’s matchup against left-hander Robbie Ray, McCullough said, “We’re going to put the lineup out there that I think is best against Ray. However it goes, I’ll feel confident with the guys that are in there, and we’ll continue to do what I see as best on any given day.”

 

Sandy Alcantara

After three excellent starts to open his season (two earned runs in 24.1 innings), Sandy Alcantara had hit a bit of a blip. Following a rough outing in Detroit in which he allowed seven earned runs, he also issued six walks in a home loss to Milwaukee. On Friday night at Oracle Park, however, he was dominant across six innings—aside from one hiccup.

“He was fantastic,” McCullough said. “Seventy-five strikes, filled up the zone, and was around the plate with all his pitches. They strung together some hits there in the fifth, but other than that, he was terrific.”

Alcantara’s final line: 6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO. He threw a season-high 108 pitches, 75 for strikes.

He scattered a few hits over his first four innings but was largely in control, inducing an inning-ending double play in the first and retiring nine straight Giants at one point. His only trouble came in the fifth, with former teammate Luis Arraez in the middle of it.

Following a one-out double by Heliot Ramos—the Giants’ first extra-base hit of the night—Drew Gilbert singled to plate San Francisco’s first run. Eric Haase then added an RBI double to right and later scored on a trademark Arraez slap single to left.

“I liked that I threw a lot of strikes. I’ll take this start over my last one with the six walks, but I made the adjustment and we got the win,” Alcantara said.

He also noted that early run support doesn’t change his mindset.

“I know for some guys it’s easy to get comfortable on the mound with a big lead, but for me it doesn’t matter. I keep fighting and attacking hitters like it’s a close game.”

 

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With the win, Miami improved to 13–13, while San Francisco fell to 11–15. Right-hander Eury Pérez is set to start Saturday afternoon as the Marlins look to clinch the series, while Robbie Ray will try to force a rubber match for the Giants.

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