Sandy Alcantara resets Marlins bullpen in second straight series win

[Kevin Barral]

 

MIAMI, FL - After a rough weekend in Queens, where the New York Mets swept the Miami Marlins, they bounced back and have now won five out of six games and two straight series. It was capped off with a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

For the first time since April 1st and 7th, Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara has completed seven innings or more in back-to-back starts. After his worst start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays, Alcantara has flipped the switch. On Sunday against a good Tampa Bay Rays team, he went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Alcantara is now five strikeouts away from 1,000 in his career and has now surpassed Josh Johnson on the franchise's all-time wins leader list, moving into third place. Ricky Nolasco holds the most wins (81) in franchise history.

 

 

"I think it's a lot of strikeouts," Alcantara said in Spanish. "I thought that I should've gotten there a long time ago, but because of the injury, that held me back...1,000 strikeouts are coming up and excited for the opportunity and hopefully I can stay healthy for many more years and to do it with this organization that is giving me the opportunity to be here everyday to come out onto this field every fifth day and compete."

The lone run Alcantara surrendered came in the top of the third inning. Yandy Diaz knocked in an RBI single to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. Sandy went on to shutout the Rays offense the rest of the way through.

With recent starting pitching injuries, the Marlins have been forced to have multiple bullpen games. In a way, Alcantara going deep into games gives the pen a reset day and with the off day on Monday, everyone should be available for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Following Sunday's start, Alcantara leads Major League Baseball with 89 1/3 innings pitched, just ahead of Philadelphia Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez.

"You kind of circle his day, when he's going to pitch," Clayton McCullough said postgame. "You feel like you can bank six or more innings from him, and that's what really he's done all season long and especially over the last couple. Not only the length, but the quality he's had in a terrific year as a whole."

 

 

Alcantara had his defense making plays behind him as well through most of his start as well. In the top of the first inning, Kyle Stowers snatched a 104.1 mph lineout from Richie Palacios that would've very likely been an extra-base hit. In the fourth inning, Javier Sanoja stole an extra-base hit from Junior Caminero, as he ended up grounding into a double-play. Owen Caissie then stole a home run from Cedric Mullins.

In the top of the seventh, Alcantara struck out Victor Mesa Jr., but Joe Mack threw out Mullins, who was trying to steal second. Originally called safe, the Marlins challenged the call and it was overturned for the double-play.

"I feel great when they get execute those plays out there," Alcantara said. "It's more easy and fresh when they make those plays for you out there. You feel more comfortable."

 

 

 

Rays recently turned starter Griffin Jax kept the Marlins offense at bay, shutting them out for five innings of work. The Marlins got to the Rays bullpen in the bottom of the sixth inning with Garrett Cleavinger on the mound. Liam Hicks worked a walk and Otto Lopez drove him in on an RBI triple, his third of the season. It tied the game at one apiece. Kyle Stowers then drove Lopez in on a sacrifice fly, giving the Marlins a 2-1 lead with Alcantara on the mound.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, McCullough deployed Esteury Ruiz off his bench to hit for Owen Caissie. Ruiz worked a fourth straight walk. Jakob Marsee followed him with a walk as well and they went for a double steal, which was successful. Joe Mack grounded into a fielder's choice and catcher Hunter Feduccia was not able to make the grab when the throw from shortstop Taylor Walls came in, allowing both Ruiz and Marsee to score, extending the Marlins lead, 4-1.

Ruiz, who the Marlins acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers over the offseason has been what the Marlins needed and potentially even more. In 32 games with the Marlins, he is slashing .196/.300/.471/.771 with three home runs, six RBI and a 110 wRC+. Ruiz stole his 11th base of the season, joining Marsee (16), Xavier Edwards (11) and Lopez (10) as the Marlins are now the only team in the Majors with four players with 10-or-more swiped bags on the season. The Marlins continue to lead Major League Baseball with 76 stolen bases.

"The amount of pressure that he puts on people, the opposing pitchers and catchers when he's on base, and you see the amount of pick-offs," McCullough said. "Then his ability to get extra 90 feet, he goes and does a lot of great things on the bases. I think that is the inherent pressure that and the stress he puts on people when he's out there."

 

 

With the win, the Marlins improve to 31-35 on the season, now just four games below .500 and 3.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. The Marlins will have a day off on Monday and are back at it on Tuesday to begin a three game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Max Meyer is slated to face former Marlin Zac Gallen at 6:40 pm EST.

 

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[Jose Herrera]

Love it! We have to extend Sandy right!?