PHOENIX — Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, the Major League leader in innings pitched, came out of the bullpen on one day of rest to record the first save of his nine-year career, sealing Miami’s 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
The 31-year-old, 6-foot-5 right-hander had thrown 101 pitches in the series opener just two days earlier. With closer Pete Fairbanks and setup man Anthony Bender both lost for the season and the bullpen having covered eight innings the night before, Alcantara told pitching coach Daniel Moskos before the game that he wanted the ninth inning. Manager Clayton McCullough gave the green light.
“I’ve been here since 2018 and I’ve seen everything this organization has been through,” Alcantara said. “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.”
Alcantara retired the side with two quick flyouts, a walk and a caught stealing. The save made him the fourth pitcher to record a save on a day he entered with at least a share of the MLB lead in innings pitched since saves became an official stat in 1969, joining Orel Hershiser (May 2, 1987), Phil Niekro (July 29, 1978) and Andy Messersmith (May 30, 1975).
“The dude is an inspiration,” said starter Ryan Gusto, who watched from the trainers’ room after his 4 1/3 innings. “He’s a leader in this clubhouse. Everybody loves him, and I think that that was the best thing in the world for this team to watch him go out there and get the first save of his career. I was in the training room with the other pitchers that had thrown already in the game, and I can’t even explain how fired up we were. Even to be watching him in that situation, I mean, one day of rest is insane, and we were loving every single second of it.”
The win gave Miami the series over playoff-hopeful Arizona, though the Marlins remain 7 1/2 games out of the National League Wild Card race with nine games to play. McCullough said the moment transcended the standings.
“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.”
Teammates gave Alcantara the rookie treatment afterward — a laundry cart ride into the showers, doused with beer and shaving cream. McCullough said the ace is building a legacy that will outlast any single September night.
“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.”
Miami continues its road trip with nine games remaining in the regular season.