Alcantara shines in his 6th opening day start, leading the Marlins past the Rockies
Sandy Alcantara put last year's ups and downs behind him and got off to a strong start to this season. The Marlins ace allowed four hits and one run in his franchise-leading sixth opening day start on Friday, leading Miami to a 2-1 home win over the Colorado Rockies. Alcantara allowed just one baserunner through the first three innings and finished with five strikeouts and two walks.
MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara put last year's ups and downs behind him and got off to a strong start to this season. The Marlins ace allowed four hits and one run in his franchise-leading sixth opening day start on Friday, leading Miami to a 2-1 home win over the Colorado Rockies. Alcantara allowed just one baserunner through the first three innings and finished with five strikeouts and two walks.
“Great for me especially to win the first one,” he said. “We know this is a long season and it’s better when you start winning. ” It was just the type of start Alcantara needed after a difficult 2025.
After missing the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, Alcantara returned to the mound in last year's opener and finished the season 11-12 with a 5. 36 ERA in 31 starts. He was spectacular after the All-Star break following a stretch when he lost seven consecutive starts and went nearly two months between wins amid season-long trade speculation , which he said was difficult to navigate.
The Marlins ultimately decided not to move him, and the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star went 7-3 with a 3. 13 ERA over his last 12 starts. Second-year manager Clayton McCullough said Friday he noticed a promising change in Alcantara's mentality during the spring.