Alcantara gets first save in first Marlin relief appearance. Background, fallout
For more than a decade, Sandy Alcantara has thrown hundreds of times between starts, an exercise known as a bullpen day.
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Wednesday’s between-starts tune up assuredly will be the most memorable one of his life, because — for the first time as a Marlin — he actually came out of the bullpen and pitched in a game.
When he finished his one inning of work in Arizona, “S, 1” (save, No. 1) appeared beside Alcantara’s name in the boxscore, a career first that preserved a 4-3 Marlins win and triggered a boisterous reaction from his teammates, who gave their naked ace a laundry cart ride into the shower where teammates doused him with shaving cream.
Alcantara occasionally pitching in save situations between starts was an idea broached by the Marlins staff just a few weeks ago. Manager Clayton McCullough discussed with him the possibility of pitching in relief against the Cubs on Sept. 6 — and Alcantara was receptive — but the Marlins ultimately didn’t need him that day.
They did on Wednesday, with late-inning relievers Peter Fairbanks and Anthony Bender out for the season and Calvin Faucher, Tyler Zuber and Michael Peterson having pitched the previous two nights.
On Wednesday — two days after throwing 101 pitches over five innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks — Alcántara told pitching coach Daniel Moskos that he would be available out of the bullpen that night if needed.
“I’ve been here since 2018, and I’ve seen everything this organization has been through,” Alcantara told MLB.com and other reporters in Phoenix after the game.
“I want to die out there for my team. That’s why I’m here. I want to compete. I want to win. So every time they give me this opportunity, I will take it.”
Teammates marveled at his selflessness.
“The dude is an inspiration,” said Marlins pitcher Ryan Gusto, who started Wednesday’s game and allowed two runs in 4 â…“ innings. “He’s a leader in this clubhouse. Everybody loves him, and I think that was the best thing in the world for this team to watch him get the first save of his career.” –
Alcantara induced flyouts from the first two batters in the ninth inning before walking Lars Nootbar. Jordan Lawler pinch-ran but was caught stealing on a terrific throw by Marlins catcher Joe Mack. Game over.
“This is my first one [save],” Alcantara said. “Hopefully they keep giving me the opportunity.”
Alcantara, who’s 13-10 with a 3.84 ERA this season, pitched his first eight big-league games in relief as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017. But all of his previous 201 Marlins appearances had come as a starter.
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Alcantara became the first big league-pitcher to throw 100-plus pitches in a regular-season game and then earn a save in a nine-inning game within the next two days since Randy Johnson on August 14 and 16 in 1993.
“His willingness to do that, it shows our fans that watch our team that there’s never going to be any quit in our group, and that guys are just willing to do whatever it takes to try to win games,” McCullough said.
“And his first career save, it’s pretty cool to watch. … I think, the ninth inning, that maybe my first game managing was the last time I felt like that.”
Alcantara, who leads the National League in games started by a pitcher (32) and innings pitched (206), remains on track to start Sunday’s game at San Diego, McCullough said.
According to baseball writer Sarah Langs, the only pitcher before Alcantara to lead baseball in innings pitched in a season, and save at least one game that same regular season, was Phil Niekro in 1978. (Saves became an official stat in 1969.)
And there’s this, per Langs: Alcantara is the fourth pitcher to get a save on a day he entered with at least a share of the MLB lead in innings pitched, joining Orel Hershiser (1987), Niekro (1978) and Andy Messersmith (1975).
“He’s creating his own legacy,” McCullough said. “He’s doing things this year, the amount of milestones in our franchise’s history that he’s been able to surpass and make his own. He’s going to have his own wing one day at loanDepot, and rightly so for what he’s done. …
“It’s pretty cool. He loves to finish games, too. So you know what? All right, if you like to finish games, well, here’s the ninth inning for you.”
The Marlins won two out of three in Arizona but entered Thursday 7.5 games of the National League’s third and final wild card spot with nine games to play.
Miami begins a nine-game series at the Padres on Friday (9:40 p.m., Marlins. TV), with Tyler Phillips pitching for the Marlins.
They’re riding a hot streak from center fielder Jakob Marsee, who had a home run and two RBI on Wednesday; he has hit .365 in September to raise his season average to .227.
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