Miami Marlins back Sandy Alcantara with extra-inning win over Mets to split series
%20(1).JPG "Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara delivers against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)")
Sandy Alcantara was masterful again, the Miami Marlins’ ace working seven shutout innings against the New York Mets on Sunday at Citi Field before being named an All-Star for the second time in his MLB career.
And three innings after Alcantara walked off the mound for the final time, his teammates finally put runs on the board and the bullpen was equally effective to salvage his efforts as the Marlins beat the Mets 2-0 in 10 innings to split the four-game series. Miami dropped the series opener on Thursday 10-0 and Saturday’s game 5-4 in 10 innings on a walk-off error. The Marlins won Friday’s game 5-2.
“It feels a lot better than losing three out of four,” said Marlins manager Don Mattingly, whose team is now 41-43 and remains within four games of the National League’s final wild card spot with a week left before the All-Star Break. “To be able to split with these guys here after [Saturday], it’s a good feeling.”
We’ll get to the specifics of Alcantara’s latest gem in a moment, but first, it’s time to highlight the players who helped seal the win in the innings after Alcantara exited the game.
Like the bullpen.
The trio of Anthony Bass, Richard Bleier and Tanner Scott threw three scoreless innings to seal the Marlins’ shutout win.
Bass entered in the eighth and worked around a two-out Francisco Lindor single to record his 13th consecutive scoreless outing. Bass has allowed just one run over 18 2/3 innings since the start of June.
Bleier, who has struggled more often than not this year after being a reliable left-handed pitcher out of the bullpen in 2020 and 2021, got the game to extra innings with a scoreless ninth inning. J.D. Davis reached on a Joey Wendle fielding error with one out before Bleier got Eduardo Escobar to hit a flyout to right field and Luis Guillorme to ground out to second base.
Bleier has now worked three consecutive scoreless outings.
“It’s nice to be able to throw the pitches I know I can throw and get the results I know I can get,” said Bleier, who had a 6.75 ERA over 10 2/3 innings since returning from a bout with COVID-19 before these past three appearances. “I’m pleased with where I’m at right now and where my delivery is and what my pitches are doing.”
And then Scott worked a scoreless 10th to seal the win, record his 12th save of the season and get redemption after his throwing error in the 10th inning on Saturday allowed the Mets’ winning run to score.
The first two batters Scott faced on Sunday — Tomas Nido and Brandon Nimmo — were the same two that played roles in the walk-off win on Saturday against Scott.
“I wanted it,” Scott said of the chance to face those two again.
Scott struck out Nido with a 97.6 mph fastball and got Nimmo to fly out to the warning track in right field. Scott then walked Mark Canha to put runners on the corners but ended the game by getting Lindor to swing through a 92 mph slider.
“It’s not even the redemption,” Scott said. “It’s just the win. That’s why you get put in that situation. All you want to do is finish the game and give us the W.”
Like Billy Hamilton.
The speedy reserve outfielder pinch-ran for Garrett Cooper as Miami’s automatic runner at second base to start the 10th and used his legs to wreak havoc and score the first run of the game. He stole third four pitches into the first at-bat of the inning and scampered home when Mets catcher Nido’s throw sailed into left field.
“He puts pressure on the defense,” Mattingly said. “We’re gonna be able to keep using him that way.”
Hamilton, who signed a minor-league deal with the Marlins on June 23 and joined the active roster on July 1, has now stolen three bases and scored four runs in his off-the-bench role.
“Me knowing my role and knowing what to expect every single day and these guys giving me so much confidence about what I do is big for me,” Hamilton said.
Like Luke Williams.
He entered the game in the sixth inning after Miguel Rojas exited with neck tightness following a collision on a Francisco Lindor popup in the fourth inning. His two-out RBI single scored Jesus Sanchez to give Miami an insurance run.
“That run is huge in an extra inning game with the guy starting at second,” Mattingly said. “With one [run], you don’t feel as comfortable. ... When you get two, it just makes it a lot easier. You don’t worry as much about the runner [at second]. Just go get the hitters and hopefully you’re able to do that.”
It all happened after Alcantara did his part once again. He held the Mets (53-33) off the board despite giving up six hits and a walk over seven innings and despite not having his best stuff.
Regardless, it was Alcantara’s 12th consecutive outing in which he has thrown at least seven innings and the fifth time in that span Alcantara held his opponent to zero earned runs.
Eight of his starts in this span — the Mets three times, the Braves twice, and the Phillies, Giants and Cardinals once apiece — have come against teams with winning records.
“When you believe in your stuff,” Alcantara said, “you don’t have to worry.”
The Marlins, however, had opportunities to score prior to extra innings that came up short. On two occasions, they had two runners on base with no outs only to come up empty.
Wendle was hit by a pitch and Berti hit a single in the fourth before Cooper grounded into his second double play of the game and Jesus Aguilar grounded out to shortstop. And in the seventh, Berti led off with a single and Cooper walked before Aguilar hit a flyout to left field, Jesus Sanchez popped out and Brian Anderson struck out swinging.
This story was originally published July 10, 2022 at 4:40 PM.
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