Alcantara Makes Marlins History, Tosses Gem in Win

MIAMI — Miami Marlins veteran right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara became the franchise’s all-time leader in both strikeouts and home wins at loanDepot park.

Alcantara allowed only one run on five hits while getting the four strikeouts to pass Ricky Nolasco (2006-13) and set the record at 1,002. He was given his hero’s exit with two outs in the seventh inning after throwing 109 pitches. 

The Marlins defeated the Texas Rangers 6-4 on Tuesday to give Alcantara his 30th career home win, which is the most since loanDepot park opened in 2012. 

“He’s been doing it for a long time and it’s just really cool to see,” Owen Caissie said after the game. “He’s one of our leaders, and it’s really awesome. He just goes out there and plays ball. He leads by example and we appreciate it.”

Alcantara has posted a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 34.2 innings over five starts in June. In turn, the Marlins broke through in June with a MLB high 15-5 mark, vaulting to a 41-39 record and are within a half game from the third and final wild card spot. 

The win was in jeopardy early in the second inning. Alejandro Osuna led off the second inning with a single, and Jarred Kelenic drew a walk after an ABS challenge went Texas’ way. The Rangers loaded the bases after a base hit by Kyle Higashioka and took a 1-0 lead on a groundout. 

The Marlins immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run by Heriberto Hernandez. The 26-year-old designated hitter went 2-for-3 with a double and his eighth home run of the season. 

The Marlins later took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Joe Mack. The rookie catcher finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Marlins broke the game wide open in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by Owen Caissie, his ninth of the season. Hernandez quickly followed it up with a double and scored on a single by Mack to put Miami up 6-1. 

The Rangers didn’t go quietly in the final two innings. Brandon Nimmo led off the eighth inning with a solo home run, and Joc Pederson hit his 10th homer of the season in the ninth inning to pull the Rangers within three runs of the Fightin’ Fish. 

Nimmo struck again with an RBI triple in the ninth inning, adding to a stressful outing by Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks. The Marlins closer bent but did not break, and ended the game on a flyout. 

Eury Perez (3-6, 4.60 ERA) will be activated from the Injured List and take the mound for the first time since May 28 on Wednesday. Perez suffered a strain to his inner right thigh in the middle of a start at Toronto, in which he was throwing nine strikeouts in four innings. 

Perez was initially expected to miss eight weeks but Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said before the game that he “responded well to the initial treatments” before going to Triple-A Jacksonville for a minor league rehab assignment. 

"As he continued to up the intensity, he got on the mound, he looked great, he felt great, and the rehab start he had in Jacksonville went very well," McCullough said. "He threw the ball well, and he felt great. [We] felt like there's no reason for us to feel like we need to have another rehab assignment. He's healthy enough, and he's in a good place to start tomorrow." 

The Rangers will send Jacob deGrom (6-4, 3.59 ERA) in the rubber match on Wednesday. 

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