Sandy Alcantara's 6 shutout innings & Nick Fortes' HR led the Marlins to a 3-2 win over the Pirates on June 11. See how the ace dominated the game.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Take a deep breath, Marlins fans. That's the Sandy Alcantara we've been waiting for. In a masterful performance that felt like a return to his Cy Young glory, Sandy carved up the Pirates for six shutout innings, paving the way for a tense 3-2 victory at PNC Park on Wednesday night.
Six shutout innings, six strikeouts, and a whole lot of hope restored. Sandy Alcantara's vintage performance was the biggest win of the night for Miami.
After a rocky start to the 2025 campaign, Sandy Alcantara turned back the clock with a dominant outing that had Pirates hitters guessing all night. He was efficient, powerful, and in complete control, scattering a few hits over six scoreless frames while striking out six. It wasn't just a win in the box score; it was a massive confidence boost for the entire organization. Seeing the ace lower his ERA and command the zone like that is a sign that the tide might be turning for the Marlins' rotation.
While Sandy was dealing, the offense provided just enough pop to make it count. Catcher Nick Fortes delivered the decisive blow in the third inning, launching a two-run homer off Pirates starter Mitch Keller. The blast, which followed a Dane Myers single, was all the offense the Marlins would need for most of the game. In a low-scoring affair, Fortes' swing was the difference-maker, and the bullpen, despite a late scare, did just enough to make it stand up.
The good news wasn't limited to Pittsburgh. Down on the farm, the future is looking bright and getting healthier. The Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp notched their eighth straight victory on a walk-off single from Maximo Acosta. More importantly, that game featured rehab appearances from Jesús Sánchez, Connor Norby, and Declan Cronin, all of whom are expected to rejoin the big-league club before the next series. With the farm system leading all of baseball with 139 stolen bases and key players nearing their return, the Marlins could be getting a major boost very soon.
This was more than just a single win in June. It was a statement. With Sandy Alcantara looking like an ace again and a wave of reinforcements from the injured list on the horizon, the Marlins head into their next series with a renewed sense of optimism. If Sandy can build on this start and the offense gets a jolt from the returning players, this team could be poised to make some noise.
