Marlins avoid sweep by Cardinals on strength of Sandy Alcantara pitching gem
On Tuesday night at loanDepot Park, Sandy Alcantara reminded everyone why, when healthy, he’s still one of baseball’s most dominant arms.
The former Cy Young Award winner turned in one of his finest performances of the season, striking out nine across seven innings in the Marlins’ 6–2 win against the Cardinals (63-65). With the victory, Miami (60–67) avoided the sweep and stalled the Cardinals’ momentum
“First, I wanna say thank God for keeping me up in the game and allowing me to do my job,” Alcantara said postgame. “I didn’t know I had that energy out there… that last strikeout, oh yeah. It was great.”
Alcantara scattered five hits, walked just one and gave up only one earned run. He leaned on a sharp changeup and a 97-mph sinker that helped him punch out four of the last six batters he faced. It was his second quality start since the trade deadline — and he said it’s no coincidence.
“I think I’m 100% healthy,” said Alcantara, who’s working back from Tommy John surgery. “I just gotta keep doing what I’ve been doing. For me, it’s time to be out there like today and just keep at them.”
Manager Clayton McCullough kept it short: “Sandy is the story.”
But he wasn’t the only one.
The Rising Rookie and Steady Star
Twenty-four year-old rookie Jakob Marsee continued his eye-catching rookie campaign. The center fielder went 1 for 4 with a walk, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI in the third. In just 20 games since his call-up, he’s batting .359 with four home runs, 19 RBI, seven stolen bases and a 1.174 OPS — making him a key part of Miami’s future core.
“Every single day I get here, just try to get a win,” Marsee said. “That’s all I really care about. I work hard every day trying to get better… and at the same time, I feel blessed to be here.”
Marsee’s poise in the box has mirrored his even-keeled nature off the field — a mind-set he credits to the people around him. Having close friends such as Graham Pauley and teammates such as Kyle Stowers have helped him stay grounded, even as the spotlight gets brighter.
“Even if I have a bad at-bat or something, Stowers will just tell me something to get my mind off it,” Marsee said.
When he’s not at the ballpark, Marsee leans on a different set of outlets to reset and recharge.
“I talk to my friends, family, girlfriend… and we’ve been playing a lot of Fortnite,” he said with a laugh.
Xavier Edwards, meanwhile, went 0 for 4 with a walk in Wednesday’s game, but remains one of the National League’s steadiest hitters. He entered the night second in the NL in batting average, trailing only the Dodgers’ Will Smith.
When asked how he manages to stay steady during the grind of a long season, Edwards offered a humble shrug — the kind that matches his smooth, day-to-day approach at the plate. The 26-year-old has been remarkably consistent in his first full year.
“I’m glad it comes off that way,” Edwards said. “You try your best to just help the team win every day. That’s all I can try to do — come to the yard, do some big things, little things, whatever it is.”
He has also made a point to separate the game from his personal life.
“I try to be all in when I’m here,” Edwards said. “But after the game, I try not to bring it home. My fiancée doesn’t deserve to see a different version of me depending on how I did. She and my family have been a great support system and I try to be the same with them.”
Acosta’s First Hit, First Homer
One of the biggest moments of the night came from a name not many knew before first pitch.
Rookie Maximo Acosta, who was called up on Aug. 18, delivered a swing he’ll never forget. In the sixth inning, he turned on a 2-0 pitch and crushed it over the center-field wall for his first major-league hit and home run — a solo shot that stretched the Marlins’ lead to 5–2.
Acosta, who had walked earlier in the game, nearly had a second RBI hit in the eighth but settled for a loud lineout to center. Still, it was a performance that offered a glimpse into his promise.
McCullough, who predicted an Acosta hit pregame, mentioned that the 22-year-old became part of a select group of players to not only reach the show, but homer for their first MLB hit.
Moments That Mattered
The Marlins opened the scoring in the second when Javier Sanoja grounded into a double play that brought home a run. Heriberto Hernandez followed with a two-run single in the third, and Troy Johnston added an RBI single in the fifth. After Acosta’s milestone homer in the sixth, Marsee capped the night with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
On the other side, Cardinals starter Andre Pallante lasted just 5 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits and three walks. Wilson Contreras homered in the sixth, and a ground-rule double from Lars Nootbaar in the fifth brought home their only other run.
From there, Miami’s bullpen Ronny Henriquez and Calvin Faucher took over. The duo retired all six batters they faced, with Faucher striking out the side in the ninth to seal the win.
“Everybody’s happy,” Alcantara said. “The fight was great today and we got the win.”
Looking Ahead
The Marlins still face an uphill climb in the standings, but Tuesday’s game showed why internal development remains the theme of the season. Edwards continues his chase toward the batting title, Marsee looks increasingly polished each night and Acosta added his first notable major league memory.
“You just believe in yourself,” Edwards said. “It’s a long season. You may not start how you want, but it’s never too late to turn it around. Try to win. Help your team win. Do little things right. You’ll look back at the end and be proud of the season.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM.