clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

O’Brien hits one out, Alcantara struggles in a 4-2 loss to Washington

The Marlins split the two-game set

By Andrew Meyer
MLB: Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight’s thread question asked: which starter, Strasburg or Sandy, would have the better outing? The verdict? Strasburg, who went six inning, giving up two runs while striking out 11 Marlins.

Meanwhile, tonight was clearly Sandy Alcantara’s worst outing as a Marlin. He only went four frames, while giving up 6 hits and 6 walks to go along with 3 earned runs. Most telling, is that in only four innings, he threw 91 pitches, only 46 of which were strikes.

Another comparison is that in his first 19 innings as a Marlins starter, he had given up only 8 hits; tonight alone he gave up 6.

After escaping a bases loaded, one out jam in the first inning, Alcantara was touched up in the second.

With one out and two runners on, Adam Eaton singled home Matt Weiters while sending Wilmer Defo to third on the hit. Trea Turner then lay down a picture perfect squeeze bunt to first baseman Peter O’Brien tp score Wilmer Difo from third, while Turner eluded the tag by the first baseman to reach base and put the Nationals up 2-0. The Nats were stopped there thanks in part to a liner right at JT Riddle that would have added another run.

Through two innings, Alcantara threw 53 pitches, 25 of which were balls. He mainly struggled with control of his two-seamer which routinely went sailing outside the zone due to excessive run on the ball. His live arm bodes well for his future, but he still has to develop better control of this, his main weapon.

In the bottom of the second, the Marlins struck as Peter O’Brien laid into a Stephen Strasburg fastball middle-in and launched it over the left field wall to bring the Marlins to within one.

In the fifth, the Marlins struck again with consecutive two-out singles from Riddle, Rojas and and Realmuto to tightened again pulled the Marlins to within one, 3-2. After O’Brien walked, Anderson struck out on a 3-2 count to end the threat.

Washington would tack on another run against the Marlins bullpen, and they would hold on to beat the Fish 4-2 to split the two game set.

Attendance: 7,726

fangraphs.com

King Fish: For the Marlins, let’s hear it for Peter O’Brien, who went two for two with a homer and a single to center on an “excuse me swing”

Flounder: Sandy Alcantara, with his worst outing as a Marlin

Turning Point: Trea Turner’s perfectly executed squeeze play

Please leave any Icthy picks in the comments below. Remember, we introduced a new grand prize for the contest this season.

Probable Starters

Stephen Strasburg

Standard Pitching
Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ FIP WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W Awards
2018 29 WSN NL 8 7 .533 3.87 19 19 0 0 0 0 114.0 105 54 49 15 30 2 133 6 1 4 473 110 3.48 1.184 8.3 1.2 2.4 10.5 4.43
9 Yrs 92 52 .639 3.14 203 203 0 2 2 0 1213.2 1011 473 424 116 313 14 1421 39 4 34 4909 129 2.89 1.091 7.5 0.9 2.3 10.5 4.54
162 Game Avg. 15 9 .639 3.14 34 34 0 0 0 0 203 169 79 71 19 52 2 238 7 1 6 822 129 2.89 1.091 7.5 0.9 2.3 10.5 4.54
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/18/2018.

Sandy Alcantara

Standard Pitching
Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ FIP WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W Awards
2018 22 MIA NL 2 0 1.000 1.42 3 3 0 0 0 0 19.0 8 3 3 1 10 0 14 2 0 0 73 262 4.26 0.947 3.8 0.5 4.7 6.6 1.40
2 Yrs 2 0 1.000 2.30 11 3 3 0 0 0 27.1 17 9 7 3 16 0 24 2 0 0 112 171 4.80 1.207 5.6 1.0 5.3 7.9 1.50
162 Game Avg. 10 0 1.000 2.30 53 15 15 0 0 0 133 83 44 34 15 78 0 117 10 0 0 544 171 4.80 1.207 5.6 1.0 5.3 7.9 1.50
STL (1 yr) 0 0 4.32 8 0 3 0 0 0 8.1 9 6 4 2 6 0 10 0 0 0 39 103 6.04 1.800 9.7 2.2 6.5 10.8 1.67
MIA (1 yr) 2 0 1.000 1.42 3 3 0 0 0 0 19.0 8 3 3 1 10 0 14 2 0 0 73 262 4.26 0.947 3.8 0.5 4.7 6.6 1.40
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/18/2018.

Today's Lineups

NATIONALS MARLINS
Adam Eaton - RF JT Riddle - SS
Trea Turner - SS Miguel Rojas - 2B
Bryce Harper - CF J.T. Realmuto - C
Anthony Rendon - 3B Peter O'Brien - 1B
Juan Soto - LF Brian Anderson - 3B
Ryan Zimmerman - 1B Lewis Brinson - CF
Matt Wieters - C Austin Dean - LF
Wilmer Difo - 2B Magneuris Sierra - RF
S. Strasburg - RHP Sandy Alcantara - RHP

Matchup Summary:

As the season winds down, there are several things that a Marlins fan can look forward to. One of the main attractions will be happening tonight: a Sandy Alcantara start.

Since his call up to Miami, he has been a revelation and has been able to shut down the opposition with an electric fast ball and solid secondary pitches.

The downside?He has walked 10 batters in 19 innings. The upside? but He has also fanned 14 batters while allowing only 8 hits allowed in 19 innings.

On the hitting side of the equation, Lewis Brinson has definitely been a joy of late. He had another clutch hit last night, and has also shown improvement in center field as well.

He and his fellow Marlins will face Stephen Strasburg who has a 4-0 record with a 0.67 ERA in his last four starts again Miami.

It should be an excellent pitching matchup, and a highlight of the last few weeks of the season, one which hopefully ends in a two-game sweep of the Nationals.

Game Thread Question:

Who will have the better outing tonight? Sandy or Strasburg?

More From Fish Stripes