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MIA 1, CIN 3: Sandy Shines, Bats Don’t

Alcantara’s 7 strong innings spoiled by two solo shots and continued lousy offense.

By Louis Addeo-Weiss
Syndication: The Enquirer Sam Greene via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Articulated in one way or another, they say to be a successful Major League pitcher, the impetus is on limiting mistakes. Well on Sunday, Marlins’ ace Sandy Alcantara did just that, yet, an issue beyond his control plagued him once again.

Throwing a season-high 111 pitches and striking out a career-best 11 over 7 innings of two-run ball, Alcantara pitched into the 7th inning for the 12th time this season. In the outing Sunday, Alcantara - who falls to 7-12 with the loss - touched 100 mph 14 times, according to Baseball-Savant. The right-hander’s only two mistakes, solo home runs to Tyler Naquin and Mike Moustakas proved the difference in a 3-1 loss, their 7th consecutive losing effort.

Unfortunately for Alcantara and the Marlins’ offense, Reds’ rookie Vladimir Gutiérrez was one better, limiting the Fish to one run over his 7 innings of work, finishing with a career-best 8 strikeouts while not walking a single batter in his 9th win of the season. Gutiérrez’s 9 wins lead all NL rookies, as well as sharing possession with Houston’s Luis Garcia for 2nd among rookies in all of baseball.

Miami’s lone run came in the 4th inning when right fielder Jesús Sánchez doubled down the left field line, driving Jazz Chisholm to tie the score at 1.

The aforementioned Moustakas home run snapped an 0-26 stretch, giving the Reds a lead they’d never relinquish.

Already having homered in the bottom of the 1st and in the series’ opener on Friday, Tyler Naquin delievered 2nd home run of the day, this time off reliever Anthony Bass, extending the Cincinnati lead to two. Naquin’s second blast of the day concluded a weekend that saw him go 7-11 with 3 home runs (1.818 SLG) against the struggling Marlins.

With Monday presenting the team with a much-needed day off, Miami will look to rekindle their winning ways when they open up a three-game homestand against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

Of Note:

  • After what was initially perceived to be his long-awaited breakout, outfielder Lewis Brinson has fallen back into a slump, slashing just .125/.188/.156 over his last 9 games. Over those 9 games, Brinson’s season OPS has fallen from .846 to .747.
  • Sunday marked the 9th time in his career, and 5th time this season, in his 31 career losses that Sandy Alcantara exited following a quality start.

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