Alcántara Impresses Again; Barraclough Blows Another Save in 4-3 Loss

Another quality start from a Marlins starting pitcher was squandered by Kyle Barraclough, in a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets.

• Sandy Alcántara: 7.0+ IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (99 pitches)
• Steven Matz: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K (100 pitches)

For the second straight outing, Alcántara put together a quality start, and took the game into the late innings. Alcántara continued to be lights out against left-handed batters. After allowing a lead-off double to Brandon Nimmo, New York’s lefties went 0-for-7 against the rookie pitcher. Lefties are now hitting .055 (2-for-36) against him.

His only blemish came in the second inning, on a two-run home run by pitcher Steven Matz.

The Marlins probably weren’t expecting Miami native Peter O’Brien to be a hero in any games this season, but that’s what happened today. O’Brien, who came into today hitting 1-for-10 in 5 games, started the top of the second inning with a solo home run, immediately followed up by an Isaac Galloway home run to put the Fish up 2-0. With the score tied at 2 in the seventh, O’Brien struck again, this time with a double to score Brian Anderson to give the Fish the lead once again.

Alcántara would pitch in the eighth inning, but was pulled after giving up a leadoff walk, and didn’t record an out in the inning.

Adam Conley came in and retired all four batters he faced.

With one out in the ninth, he was pulled in exchange for Kyle Barraclough. Entering the game, Barraclough hadn’t recorded a save in his last five opportunities. Unfortunately, today’s game would follow that same tune. After getting the second out of the ninth, he allowed a solo home run to Michael Conforto to tie the game at 3-3. On the very next at-bat, he gave up another solo shot to Todd Frazier to blow another save.

The Marlins and Mets are currently playing Game 2 of this doubleheader, and travel to Philadelphia to play the Philles on Friday at 7:10 p.m.

Fangraphs

Kingfish: Peter O’Brien (.269 WPA)

Flounder: Kyle Barraclough (-.895 WPA)

Moment of the game: Todd Frazier’s game-winning home run.

Let’s (try to) play two! After pushing back the second game of last night’s doubleheader to today, the Marlins and Mets will play a single-admission doubleheader starting at 3:10 p.m.

Things went about as awfully as they could have last night for the Fish. After sitting through 5 ¹⁄₂ hours of delays, the Marlins gave up 13 runs, and got shut out for the 12th time this season.

Luckily for Miami, Sandy Alcántara will be on the mound. He’s fresh off a 7-inning shutout last week in his return from the disabled list. It will be interesting to see how far he can go in today’s game, and perhaps give the bullpen a rest before game two. This is also the first time he’s facing the Mets since his debut on June 29 in which he gave up one run in five innings.

Pitching for the Mets will be Steven Matz. Matz has a 4.17 ERA in 133 ²⁄₃ IP. He’s been struggling for most the season, but his last 8 starts since the All-Star break have been particularly unkind to him. In 37 ²⁄₃ IP, he’s posted an ERA of 6.21.