These were the keys to one of Sandy Alcantara's most dominant starts of 2025

MIAMI, FL—Sandy Alcantara for the third time in 2025 completed seven innings of work. Alongside Maximo Acosta, who hit his first career home run, they propelled the Marlins to a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, salvaging the series finale.

Alcantara threw what manager Clayton McCullough thought was his best overall game of the season on Friday night against the Red Sox. This performance was very similar, going seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, one walk and striking out a season-high nine batters.

"It's been a difficult season overall," said McCullough. "To come off an incredible start in Boston and back that up tonight with seven very strong innings, get through that finish with a punchout. His stuff seemed to be at his best there at the end. Even as things have gone this year, Sandy hasn't forgotten how to compete. He knows moments and he knew that was a moment there and we saw him dig down and empty it out."

What made this one different from his start against the Red Sox was a relatively low 33.3% ground ball rate, which is uncharacteristic of Alcantara. His changeup specifically was up 1.6 mph compared to his season average. He generated six whiffs with the changeup. Alcantara struck out three hitters with the changeup.

"It's been great since last outing," said Alcantara. "We had that plan since yesterday. We got to use it more in the game and I think me and Agustín did a great job trying to be more aggressive with it."

Alcantara's four-seam fastball also topped out at 100.0 mph for the second time this season. It generated five whiffs and struck out two hitters. The sinker, which was used 21% of the time, generated three strikeouts.

In the fourth inning, Alcantara struck out Willson Contreras, moving him into sole possession of second place in franchise history with 1023 IP, surpassing Dontrelle Willis. On top of that, Alcantara became one of five pitchers to throw over 114 pitches in a start.

Alcantara, who the St. Louis Cardinals traded to the Marlins in December 2017, now holds a 1.66 ERA in eight starts against his former team. He also went five shutout innings against the Cardinals in his final start before the trade deadline.

"It's always a great fight from both sides," said Alcantara. "I think they've did a great job since the first at-bat all the way through the last at-bat. I just feel comfortable to be out there—not just with the Cardinals, with everyone. Sometimes you're gonna have better results with one team and sometimes you're gonna have better results with different team. I think everything just comes together well every time I face the Cardinals."

Another big difference was the run support provided to Alcantara. In the bottom of the second inning, Javier Sanoja grounded into a double play, but the first run of the game scored. Heriberto Hernández knocked in two more runs, making it 3-0 in the third inning. Troy Johnston drove in the fourth run of the ballgame on an RBI single.

"I think we saw someone that was really trying to make things happen," McCullough said regarding Johnston. "Very aggressive, not letting (pitches) come to him. I think we've seen the at-bats are not just in swing mode. He is shrinking the area which he's looking for the pitch. He's getting himself in much better counts. He's getting into at-bats and giving himself a chance to have some success. It takes 10-15 at-bats up here to settle in a little bit. Now we're seeing a much higher quality of at-bat and the decision-making is better. That's led to some of these results that we've seen."

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Maximo Acosta took Cardinals starter Andre Pallante 418 feet deep to dead center, for his first big league hit and home run. Acosta is the first Marlin to homer for his first hit since Jerar Encarnación (June 19, 2022), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"I was thinking about my father right there," said Acosta. "That's the only memory in my mind—it's my father. My mom is not here. So it's a special night."

Acosta was one of three prospects acquired in the Jake Burger trade and is the first of those players to debut. Through 106 games this season in Triple-A Jacksonville, he slashed .232/.319/.376 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI and 28 stolen bases. One tool that seems to have been consistent throughout his career is the power. On Wednesday night, he showed it off.

With the win, the Marlins move to 60-67 on the season. There is an off-day on Thursday before the Fish welcome the Toronto Blue Jays, who will have Shane Bieber making his 2025 season debut, his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in early 2024. For the Marlins, it would normally be Cal Quantrill's turn to pitch, but he was placed on outright waivers on Tuesday. They'll wait for the waiver process to play out before listing a starter.