Alcantara, Marlins exact revenge with sweep of Rockies

Sandy Alcantara's seventh consecutive start completing six or more innings pushed the Marlins to a sweep-clinching victory against the Rockies on Thursday from Coors Field. A few months or even weeks ago, that sentence would've come across to some as unbelievable. Now, with the Marlins playing some of their best ball all season, it's just another day as they try to complete a miraculous ride to the postseason.

Alcantara and the Fish avenged the embarrassing sweep they suffered three months ago in Miami at the hands of these same Rockies, capped off by a 9-7 victory that was much more one-sided than the score suggests.

Alcantara, who has done a complete 180 since the middle of August, was indeed the tone-setter.

After stumbling in the second, Miami's ace was spectacular for the remaining 4 ⅔ innings he pitched. In his 30th start of the season, the 30-year-old punched out eight, relying mostly on his changeup and four-seam. His ERA continues to fall, now sitting at 5.48 on the season—that is more than a full run lower than it had been seven starts ago.

Alcantara is projected to pitch only once more in 2025 (likely during next week's series in Philadelphia).

Liam Hicks was the ringleader at the plate for Clayton McCullough's bunch, collecting four RBI and his sixth long ball of the season. Otto Lopez went back-to-back with Hicks in the third and Heriberto Hernández added what ended up being a key two runs on his ninth blast of the year.

Valente Bellozo's struggles in the ninth inning (0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Calvin Faucher induced a grounder back to the mound for the final out and earned his 14th save in the process.

Now sitting at 73-80 with still a minuscule chance to sneak into the postseason, the Fish embark east to Texas where a weekend matchup with the Rangers awaits. Friday's series opener is set for 8:05 ET.