Miami Marlins get shut out in Pitcher’s Duel, Lose 2-0

A misplaced fastball by Sandy Alcantara resulting in a two-run homer proved to be the difference-maker in the Miami Marlins 2-0 loss to the Phillies.

The game was quickly established to be a pitcher’s duel between Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara and Philadelphia Phillies starter Vince Velasquez. Both offenses struggled to get anything going in the first few innings, as only two batters had reached base by the middle of the third inning. Alcantara and Velasquez gave up a combined five hits and two earned runs over 14 innings pitched.

It looked like Velasquez would be the first to surrender a run in the bottom of the third when the Marlins engineered back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. This opportunity was squandered however, as Jesus Aguilar lined out to left field to end the inning.

In fact, it was Alcantara who cracked first in the top of the fourth. With two out and a runner on first, Alcantara missed his spot on a 1-2 fastball that went over the middle for Rhys Hoskins to smash over the left field wall.

Despite the loss, Miami Marlins SP Sandy Alcantara was solid.

This was the only blip on an otherwise solid night for Alcantara, who left the game after the eighth inning with only two earned runs on two hits and a walk against him. Unfortunately, Alcantara got stuck with the loss, as his offense failed to produce any runs, a fact that stings when considering that the Marlins left 11 runners on base over the course of the game.

Two of Miami’s four hits on the evening came from Jazz Chisholm, the lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster performance by the Marlins offense. Chisholm’s night ended on a low note however, as he sprained his right ankle on a swinging strikeout in the bottom of the eighth. According to Marlins manager Don Mattingly, the sprain is mild. Whether Chisholm will miss any time is not yet known.

The 2-0 loss puts an end to a three-game win streak for Miami, but the Marlins still hold a 3-2 lead in their season series against the Phillies.