Alcantara Outduels Senga, Marlins Tie Series Against Mets Winning 4-2

Miami, Florida- After dropping the series opener against the New York Mets (2-3) yesterday, 10-4, the Miami Marlins (4-2) tied the series behind a dominant outing on the mound by Sandy Alcantara, winning 4-2. Miami’s ace showed signs of his 2022 Cy Young form, outdueling Kodai Senga, going five strong innings, surrendering only two runs, and earning his first win since September 2023.

“He’s gonna be a process. I thought Sandy, pitched his butt off and competed like he always does, said Clayton McCullough after the game. He was itching to go back out there for the sixth, I just felt like game state and I just made that decision there to go with our bullpen. I feel like he gave us everything he had tonight through the five and felt very confident with what we had coming in behind him.”

Alcantara’s comeback continues after missing the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Against Pittsburgh on Opening Day, Alcantara dominated the Pirates’ lineup for the first 4 2/3 innings of the game, striking out seven. Pittsburgh rallied with two outs in the top of the 5th. Bryan Reynolds’ single with the bases loaded brought in two runs and chased Sandy out of the game.

Alcantara and Miami’s First Inning Statement

The first inning was very eventful and productive for the Marlins on the field and in the batter’s box. Alcantara retired the Mets in order on three groundouts while breaking Francisco Lindor’s and Pete Alonso’s bats.

“Feels good, you know. Just a couple things happened out there, getting tired quick, said Alcantara postgame. But I was giving everything I got, so I think that’s what I did today… I think just taking more time to get fully recovered, and getting back to my normal routine. But if I can pitch out there throwing 94, 93 I’ll take it.”

Sandy Alcántara, Filthy 90mph Changeup. pic.twitter.com/xmTM58qqKu

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 1, 2025

In the bottom half of the first, Xavier Edwards leads off with a double to right-center field. Kyle Stowers followed that up by belting his first home run of the season over the right field wall. On just four pitches, the Marlins wasted little time to jump on a very good pitcher in Senga and take an early 2-0 lead.

Stowers puts Miami up on the board early. #Marlins || #MarlinsBeisbolpic.twitter.com/e8ZO76p4qk

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) April 1, 2025

Mets Chip Away

Facing the Mets was a more significant test for Alcantara while he still works his way back to being the Alcantara of old. On paper, the Mets are the superior team offensively compared to the Pirates, with names like Juan Soto and, previously mentioned, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso in the lineup.

After a clean and efficient first inning, Alcantara ran into some trouble in the second and third. In the top of the second, Brandon Nimmo homered to right field to cut Miami’s lead in half, 2-1. Alcantara retired the following three batters to avoid a big inning, but New York had some success against the right-hander the second time around in the batting order.

Home runs on back-to-back days for Brandon Nimmo! pic.twitter.com/c84aPwlUu2

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 1, 2025

Luisangel Acuña led off with a ground-rule double in the top of the third. After advancing to third base on a groundout, Lindor drove Acuña in with an RBI single to center field and tied the game 2-2. That would be all the offense the Mets produced against Alcantara. Once again, he avoided a big rally, retiring Juan Soto and Pete Alonso after Lindor’s single. It was New York’s best chance to take the lead against Alcantara as he righted the ship and bounced back to finish his outing on a high note.

Alcantara Settles In

Alcantara threw a scoreless fourth inning, keeping the game tied 2-2. In the bottom half of the same inning, the Marlins regained the lead, capitalizing on Lindor’s second error of the game. Otto Lopez led off the inning, reaching base on the error by Lindor. After Matt Mervis and Griffin Conine were retired, Jonah Bride worked a two-out walk. With runners on first and second base, third baseman Graham Pauley lined a double to left-center field, bringing in both runners and giving Miami a two-run lead.

Graham Pauley breaks the tie with a two-run double. #Marlins now lead 4-2 against the #Mets @LemonCityLive
pic.twitter.com/YYsINYvAj4

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) April 1, 2025

That would be it for Miami’s offense today. It was just enough, and Alcantara responded with a shutdown inning after the Marlins took a 4-2 lead. Just like the fourth, Alcantara threw a scoreless 1-2-3 fifth inning and was in line for the win.

Finishing the fifth inning with just 70 pitches, many expected Alcantara to come out for the sixth. Manager Clayton McCullough had a different outlook and strategy. It was the fewest pitches Sandy has thrown in an outing in 4 years.

“It was a surprise for me. But if they saw something different in me, I gotta take it, I gotta respect those people out there, said Alcantara after the game. Especially the manager, first time as a manager, and I gotta respect that. It is what it is, and we win, so we gotta celebrate today.”

Sandy Alcantara is in line for the win pitching five innings with the #Marlins currently leading 4-2. A strong outing and improved from his Opening Day start against Pittsburgh. Today he gave up 3 hits and 2 earned runs with 0 walks and 4 K's @LemonCityLive pic.twitter.com/zZRTXFqLj9

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) April 2, 2025

Bullpen Support

After Alcantara’s five strong innings of two-run ball, the first arm out of Miami’s bullpen was Ronny Henriquez. The right-hander shut down New York’s lineup, pitching a scoreless sixth and seventh inning and keeping Miami’s lead at 4-2. Lake Bachar followed Henriquez’s lead, tossing a scoreless eighth inning, retiring the side in order.

“They were great, said Clayton McCullough after the game about the bullpen’s performance. Ronnie Enriquez was someone we really were high on acquiring him, and we saw that tonight. That was really solid two innings of work.  And Lake Bachar, a ton of confidence in him and Veneziano went out there and threw the ball well coming in. So we have a lot of options there. We feel good with some of these guys, their ability to righties, being able to face some left handed hitters. Awesome job tonight four innings finishing that one out.”

Anthony Veneziano entered out of the bullpen for the 9th inning with a 4-2 lead and was in line to record his first career save. The left-hander walked Juan Soto to start the inning but got Pete Alonso to ground into a force out. Facing another lefty, Veneziano could not retire Brandon Nimmo. He singled up the middle to give the Mets runners on first and second with one out.

Clayton McCullough came out of Miami’s dugout to replace Veneziano with Anthony Bender. The veteran right-hander induced a flyout by Mark Vientos. Jesse Winker was up next and grounded out to first base to end the ballgame. Bender earned his first save of the 2025 season.

Tomorrow’s series finale will be the rubber match, with the winner of the game taking the series. Connor Gillispie will be on the mound for the Fish, facing Clay Holmes for the Mets. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:40 p.m.

Graham Pauley postgame talking about his approach today vs Senga and his go ahead 2-run double in the 4th inning which was the difference in todays game @LemonCityLive pic.twitter.com/rJVPpQdwhq

— Alex “Milo” Aguirre (@aguirrethecap33) April 2, 2025

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