Alcantara Leads Marlins Past Rays, Clinches Series Victory

MIAMI — “Vintage Sandy” came out to play on Sunday. 

Sandy Alcantara limited the Tampa Bay Rays to one run with seven strikeouts through seven innings to lead the Miami Marlins to a 4-1 win, clinching the home series and splitting the 2026 Citrus Series against their Sunshine State rivals. 

Rookie catcher Joe Mack told the Marlins Radio after the game, Alcantara “was convicted in everything he was throwing.”

“We had a good game plan coming in, and he went out there and executed it, had really good stuff today, and was throwing the ball extremely well,” Mack said. 

The 30-year-old ace of the Marlins has held the Rays, who entered the series with the best record in the American League, to only one run in both outings against them. 

“I think Alcantara was really tough, “Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He had a good fastball going, mixed his fastball well between the two-seam and the four-seam, kept us off-balance, a lot of power and proficiency.”

The Marlins fell behind early in the third inning when Yandy Diaz singled in Taylor Walls to put Tampa Bay up 1-0. It was Diaz’s only hit of the day, and he leads the series with a .325 batting average and .925 OPS. 

The Marlins struck back to take a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Otto Lopez hit an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Stowers. 

After Esteury Ruiz stole third base, Joe Mack grounded into a fielder’s choice. A fielding error by Rays catcher Hunter Feduccia led to both Ruiz and Jakob Marsee scoring. 

The Marlins became the only team in the Major Leagues to have four players steal 10 or more bases this season. The Fightin’ Fish also led the big leagues with 76 stolen bases. 

The Marlins (31-35) have won 5-of-6 since the start of June. Acknowledging the cliche before using it, Mack said the Marlins are “playing baseball.”

“We’re scoring guys when we need to,” Mack said, “It’s just that everyone is going in there with conviction in what they’re doing and we’re going out there and doing it.”

Meanwhile, the Rays (37-25) have lost 5-of-6 since the start of June and are now tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.

“We got some guys that are going through it,” Cash said. “It’s just not clicking for whatever reason.” 

The Marlins have Monday off and will welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to loanDepot park on Tuesday. The Marlins will have Max Meyer (6-0, 2.81 ERA) on the mound against Zac Gallen (3-5, 5.32 ERA), who started his career in Miami. Ryan Gusto and Tyler Phillips will round out the rotation that week. 

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