Sandy Alcantara Ks 10 in loss to Cardinals | April 6th, 2021

Miami, Florida – Sandy Alcantara was terrific tonight, tying his career-high of 10 strikeouts, but it ended in another loss to the Cardinals. Fanning six in a row, he kept the Miami Marlins competitive with little run support, tossing six frames. The Fish were an abysmal 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11. Twice they loaded the bases with only one run to show for it, scored on a sacrifice fly.  Alcantara ran into trouble at the tail end of his outing where the red birds recorded three runs on two hits. The defense, specifically Jorge Alfaro, was a large reason for it.

Sandy is 🗣piling 🗣them 🗣up. pic.twitter.com/9DD2OmAj0z

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 7, 2021

Where’s the clutch?

The Marlins quickly took the lead in the first. Starling Marte hit one towards left fielder Tyler O’ Neill who made both a fielding and throwing error, allowing Corey Dickerson to score on the play. Miami threatened to add more but Adam Duvall grounded into a 5-3 double play and Jazz Chisholm struck out, stranding two.

Nolan Arenado turns the double play for the Cardinals.
TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/R9nySyA4xC#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/oueVfVTay1

— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) April 6, 2021

At the bottom of the third, the Fish were in an excellent position to score more runs after Garrett Cooper walked to load ’em. With nobody out the Marlins appeared to have John Gant on the ropes. They came away with nothing. Duvall whiffed at the plate while Brian Anderson popped out to the infield. Gant escaped the no-out bases-loaded jam, getting Chisholm to strike out swinging with his changeup. You can’t squander opportunities like these.

Miami loaded the bases again in the fifth and this time Chisholm redeemed himself a bit with a sac fly to left, scoring Cooper who achieved a new career-high of three walks in an MLB game.

Momentum Shifter

The Cards rallied in the sixth after Alcantara surrendered back-to-back singles and a walk. With the bases juiced, Alfaro was charged with a passed ball that deflected off his knee, allowing Tommy Edman to cross the dish. Paul Dejong grounded out to BA at third but Paul Goldschmidt scored on the play once the throw to first was made. Yadier Molina sac flied to center field to cap off the three-run inning.

Chisholm doubled to start off the eighth. Despite the positive hit, Miami’s offense did nothing with it.  The next two batters failed to get on base and although Jesus Aguilar drew a walk, Dickerson flied out to deep center. While the Marlins struggled at the plate Dylan Carlson took Richard Bleier deep in the ninth to extend the Cardinals’ lead. The solo shot was his second homer of the season. St. Louis held on to win and Miami is now 1-4.

How 'bout that? pic.twitter.com/q1AAlKmylb

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 7, 2021

Did you know

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the seventh time in club history a Marlins pitcher has struck out six or more in a row. The last guy who did it? Southpaw Trevor Rogers on September 21, 2020, against the Atlanta Braves where he fanned six consecutive batters. The club record is nine in a row, held by Ricky Nolasco who also bullied the Braves in the ATL on September 30, 2009. The more you know.

Game Notes

Sandy Alcantara: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K

The St. Louis Cardinals scored four runs on six hits committing two errors

Miami scored two runs on seven hits committing one error

Team LOB – STL: 7, MIA: 11

Yadier Molina was the only player in the game to record more than one hit (2-for-3, 1 RBI)

I’ve had it with Hollandsworth blaming the #Marlins’ offensive woes on the roof being open. It certainly hasn’t hindered the opposition.

I have no solutions for the sad state of their offense other than the obvious– both Coop and Aguilar need to start every game.

— Jane Winston (@janewins1) April 7, 2021

Photo Credit | JC Ruiz