Marlins call in ace Sandy Alcantara for his first career save, 2 days after a 101-pitch start
MLB's leader in starts, innings and pitches decided to give relief work a try on Wednesday.
In a tense Marlins game against the Diamondbacks, pitcher Sandy Alcantara made an extremely rare relief appearance to secure a save. The Marlins had been trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, with the Diamondbacks attempting a comeback. Alcantara, known for his reliability as a starting pitcher, entered the game with the intent of closing out the contest.
He retired the first two Diamondbacks batters with flyouts, but allowed a walk to the tying run, which eventually scored on a pinch-runner. As a result of his performance, Alcantara earned his first career save, marking his ninth relief appearance in the MLB. His previous relief outing was back in October 2017 during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals when he made eight appearances, posting a 4.32 ERA.
Alcantara was later traded to the Marlins in a deal that brought Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis. Since then, the starting pitcher has established himself as a dependable rotation member, making 32 starts this season and leading the league in innings pitched (206.0).
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