Miami Marlins: Winning Streak with Dominance in Denver
The Miami Marlins continue their rise in the season, solidifying their good form by defeating the Colorado Rockies with a score of 9-7 at Coors Field. This victory not only secures a sweep, but also extends their streak to seven wins in the last eight games played. Dominican pitcher Sandy Alcántara led the charge from the mound, showcasing a performance reminiscent of his stellar performance, which earned him the National League Cy Young Award in 2022. Alcántara pitched for 6.2 innings on a field known to be challenging for him, allowing three runs, five hits, and two walks, while striking out eight batters. This impressive outing lowers his ERA to 2.70 in his last seven starts.Manager Clayton McCullough praised Alcántara’s progress after overcoming Tommy John surgery: “We knew it would take time, but what Sandy is doing now is what we expected. He’s back to being dominant.” The Marlins’ offense also had an outstanding performance. Liam Hicks drove in four runs thanks to a home run and a crucial single. Dominicans Otto López and Heriberto Hernández provided power with home runs. López hit an impressive 446-foot hit in the third inning, while Hernández, as a pinch hitter in the ninth, hit a two-run home run. Rookie Agustín Ramírez continued his outstanding season with two doubles, becoming the first Marlins player to reach at least 30 doubles, 20 home runs, and 10 stolen bases in his debut season. In addition, he is the second rookie catcher in MLB history to achieve such numbers, after Geovany Soto in 2008. After Alcántara’s exit, Tyler Phillips held the lead with 1.1 scoreless innings. Although Valente Bellozo allowed four runs in the ninth inning, Calvin Faucher secured the final out to seal the victory. With nine games remaining on the schedule, the Marlins are focusing on the future. “We feel like we have more clarity now than at the beginning of the season,” McCullough said. “We want to finish strong and build on what we’ve accomplished.” The combination of a fully fit Alcántara and emerging young talent in Miami generates optimism in South Florida, envisioning a competitive future in the Major Leagues.“The two-seam fastball was great, the cutter was ‘nasty’. I just focused on being aggressive with my best pitch,” said the 29-year-old ace, satisfied with his performance in Denver, where he previously had an ERA of 7.56 in three starts.
Sandy Alcántara
