Sandy Alcantara is solar powered, but not Marlins bats

Sandy Alcantara is apparently solar powered. He has a 1.36 ERA in the five day games that he has pitched this season. 

Coming off the most efficient complete game in Marlins history — in which he threw an 89-pitch shutout against the New York Mets — Alcantara tossed six shutout innings, allowing two hits with five walks and three strikeouts. 

“It wasn’t Sandy’s best stuff,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “But he hung in there. He didn’t give up any runs, he got himself out of trouble. The way he hung in there, it definitely was a day that seemed like a battle for him all day long.”

The same couldn’t be said about the Marlins bats. Alcantara drove in Miami’s only run of the game and San Francisco Giants avoided the sweep with a 3-1 win on Thursday.

“Once you’ve gotten two [games], you don’t feel great about this one because we just didn’t do enough to win it,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s kind of that day game you’re seeing these days. Just not a lot of juice either side and it’s a different kind of game. But obviously, I’m disappointed we didn’t win today.”

Alcantara’s RBI scored Miguel Rojas, who’s double was his first extra base hit since April 20 against the Washington Nationals. It gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the second inning but their hitters weren’t able to do much afterwards.

Thursday was a day of firsts for a pair of Giants rookies. Starting pitcher Tyler Beede, who was called up after Wednesday’s game, knocked in his first MLB hit in the third inning. Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, drove in his first career RBI to tie the game 1-1 in the seventh inning.

The Giants took the lead in the eight inning off a two-run double by Brandon Crawford. The Marlins had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom half of the inning but Starlin Castro’s potential 3-run homer fell short at the warning track. 

During the game, Marlins first baseman Neil Walker strained his right quad while running to first base after a grounder. He left the game in the seventh inning and is currently day to day.

“We don’t know how severe it is,” Mattingly said. “The way he kind of pulls up tells you it’s going to be a little bit.”

The Marlins begin their six-day road trip to San Diego and Milwaukee on Friday.  Caleb Smith will pitch the first game of the Padres series and last game of the Brewers series. Unlike their last four opponents, both of these teams are above .500 so credibility will be earned if the Marlins’ hot play continues.