MIAMI -- In what might’ve been his final home start at loanDepot park, Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara purposely took the mound to Wilmer Roberts' "Nunca Creyeron" (They Never Believed).
Alcantara, who has struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery, outdueled fellow July 31 Trade Deadline candidate Dylan Cease in the Marlins’ 3-2 victory over the Padres on Wednesday afternoon.
In a 98-pitch outing, Alcantara allowed just one unearned run on four hits over a season-high seven innings, striking out four and walking none. It was vintage Alcantara, who induced nine groundouts, including two inning-ending double plays.
“There is a lot of people that they don't believe in [me], but if I believe, I don't care what they say, so I've just got to trust in God's process, just be out there,” Alcantara said. “It doesn't matter what they say, doesn't matter what happens. Just be out there and fighting for my team.”
Alcantara retired the first 10 batters in order until Luis Arraez’s ground-ball single through the shifted left side of the infield with one out in the fourth. A throwing error by catcher Nick Fortes on a pickoff attempt moved Arraez to second, and he scored on Manny Machado’s RBI single to left on Alcantara’s two-strike curveball.
Nursing a 3-1 lead in the seventh, Alcantara worked around Machado’s one-out double to keep it a two-run ballgame. After Gavin Sheets advanced Machado on a flyout, Alcantara fell behind, 3-0, to Xander Bogaerts before making it a full count and getting another flyout to center.
“We all know it's been talked about a lot with the struggles this year,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “Sandy, what he's continued to do, is the resiliency [he] has shown through his competitiveness, and we enjoy and celebrate today, because that was a terrific outing.
“ ... So very happy for Sandy. It's just how he's continued to stick with it. And then to come through today with a big start for us, hold them down, and for us to win a series here at home.”
Alcantara, who turns 30 on Sept. 7, has been one of the biggest names circulating in the rumor mill leading up to the Deadline. Pitching is always in demand, and he comes at a relatively affordable price with team control. Alcantara is owed $17.3 million in 2026 and has a $21 million club option for ‘27 ($2 million buyout).
“I don't know that,” Alcantara said of the rumors. “I just feel great being here at this organization, so what I know is I've got to go on the road with the team. [If] something happens, [it] just happens. I've just got to be able to compete, be able to work, and just let everything happen.”
Since Alcantara’s return from Tommy John surgery has been anything but smooth, it put into doubt both his capability and a possible asking price. Entering the series finale, his 7.14 ERA was the highest among the 85 Major League starting pitchers with at least 90 innings.
Even during those rough outings, however, Alcantara rediscovered his ability to go deep into ballgames. Including Wednesday, he has gone at least six innings in seven of his last nine starts.
“He was nasty,” Machado said. “He was good. He was back to himself. ... Definitely different than when we faced him back at home [in May]. Obviously, he hasn't really had a great first half. But he was definitely different today, commanding all his pitches, slider was pretty good, kept us off-balance.”
Added Padres manager Mike Shildt: “He looked like more of the Cy Young Sandy.”
If this was the final home start in Miami for Alcantara, what a legacy he created as the only Cy Young Award winner in franchise history.
Alcantara earned a workhorse reputation on this mound during an era where eating up innings is a rarity. On May 19, 2019, he recorded the first shutout of his career – on just 89 pitches! – en route to his first All-Star selection. Four months later, Alcantara tallied another shutout.
When it comes to home numbers in Marlins history, Alcantara ranks second in complete games (7), is tied for third in shutouts (four) and tied for sixth in ERA (3.20, minimum 25 starts).
Alcantara is in line to start again on Tuesday in St. Louis against the organization that signed him as a teenager from the Dominican Republic, then dealt him to the Marlins in December 2017 as the headliner of the Marcell Ozuna trade.
“Like a player, like a guy who took advantage of an opportunity, a guy who liked to compete,” Alcantara said of what he would want to be known for. “I like to learn and everything. If they want to remember me like a ‘caballo,’ I'll take it. That feels great about the opportunity I had here.”