Sandy Alcantara Becomes Marlins Strikeout Leader

MIAMI — Miami Marlins veteran right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara became the franchise’s all-time leader in strikeouts after defeating the Texas Rangers 6-4 on Tuesday

Alcantara allowed only one run on five hits while getting the four strikeouts to pass Ricky Nolasco (2006-13) and set the record at 1,002. He was given his hero’s exit with two outs in the seventh inning after throwing 109 pitches. 

Alcantara finished his 6.2-inning outing with the final strikeout necessary to break the record, saying after the game, “Being a franchise leader is always great for me.”

“I’m very proud of myself and the way I’ve been growing in this organization,” Alcantara said of the milestone. “I’m very proud of the way this organization believes in me. They trust me, I trust them.” 

Alcantara has posted a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 34.2 innings over five starts in June. In turn, the Marlins broke through in June with an MLB high 15-5 mark, vaulting to a 41-39 record and are within a half game from the third and final wild card spot. 

The Marlin took a 2-1 lead on solo home runs by Heriberto Hernandez in the second inning and by Joe Mack in the fourth inning.

The Marlins broke the game wide open in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by Owen Caissie, his ninth of the season. Hernandez quickly followed it up with a double and scored on a single by Mack to put Miami up 6-1. 

The Rangers didn’t go quietly in the final two innings. Brandon Nimmo led off the eighth inning with a solo home run, and Joc Pederson hit his 10th homer of the season in the ninth inning to pull the Rangers within three runs of the Fightin’ Fish. 

Nimmo struck again with an RBI triple in the ninth inning, adding to a stressful outing by Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks. The Marlins closer bent but did not break, and ended the game on a flyout.