Miami Marlins: Sweep and Domination at Coors Field
The Miami Marlins solidified their good form by defeating the Rockies 9-7 at Coors Field, completing a sweep that gives them their seventh victory in their last eight games. The stellar performance of the Dominican Sandy Alcántara from the mound was key to this triumph. Alcántara, showing a version close to the one that earned him the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, pitched 6.2 innings in a historically challenging scenario for him. He allowed three runs, five hits, and two walks, while striking out eight batters. With this outstanding performance, the right-hander lowered 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 shone. Liam Hicks drove in four runs with a home run and a key single. Dominicans Otto López and Heriberto Hernández also hit home runs. López hit an impressive 446-foot hit in the third inning, and Hernández, as a pinch hitter in the ninth, contributed 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 this mark, after Geovany Soto in 2008. After Alcántara’s departure, Tyler Phillips maintained the lead with 1.1 scoreless innings. Although Valente Bellozo conceded four runs in the ninth, Calvin Faucher secured the final out to secure the victory. With nine games remaining on the schedule, the Marlins are focusing on the future.“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
