Marlins Edge Pirates in Tense Showdown, Snap Losing Streak
PITTSBURGH — The Miami Marlins put an end to their recent struggles, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Tuesday night, as Sandy Alcantara showcased a stellar performance on the mound.
Alcantara (3-7) turned in a dominant six-inning outing, striking out six batters, allowing just three hits and walking one, marking his first win since April 12. After a rough stretch where he went 0-7 with a 9.07 ERA over his last nine starts, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner finally found his rhythm.
The Marlins got on the board early with a two-run homer from Nick Fortes, his second of the season, in the third inning off Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller (1-9). Eric Wagaman contributed with an RBI single, expanding Miami’s lead in the fourth.
Despite a late push from the Pirates, fueled by homers from Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz off Marlins reliever Ronny Henriquez, it wasn’t enough to secure a comeback. Calvin Faucher came in to close, navigating a jittery ninth inning with runners on base to earn his fifth save.
Keller endured another tough outing, surrendering eight hits over six innings, leaving him winless since his season opener against the Marlins. The Pirates, now 15-15 under new manager Don Kelly, saw their season-high four-game win streak come to an end.
A pivotal moment in the ninth came when pinch-runner Jared Triolo stumbled, halting his advancement to third base as the tying run.
Miami’s next challenge comes with a matinee on Wednesday, as Cal Quantrill (3-6, 5.63 ERA) faces Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter (4-3, 3.49 ERA) in the series finale.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
