MIAMI — Sandy Alcantara could only watch as Nick Maton got hold of his elevated sinker in the seventh inning and sent it sailing toward right field. The Miami Marlins’ ace had maneuvered around his share of jams through the first six innings of the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
This one mistake cost him.
Maton’s two-run home run broke up Alcantara’s shutout bid and gave the Phillies the lead for good in Miami’s 2-1 loss Tuesday at loanDepot park. The Marlins are now 58-84 this season, including 22-34 in one-run games. The Phillies improve to 79-62.
Alcantara overall scattered eight hits and a walk while striking out four over seven innings against the Phillies. He became the first pitcher this season to eclipse the 200-inning mark and the first Marlins pitcher to hit the threshold in consecutive seasons since Dontrelle Willis.
But it wasn’t his easiest outing. Alcantara had to get himself out of trouble early and often.
Like in the first, when he worked around a Kyle Schwarber leadoff walk.
And in the third, when Brandon Marsh was at third base with one out only to be stranded on a Schwarber popout and Rhys Hoskins strikeout.
And the fourth, when the Phillies had three consecutive two-out hits to load the bases only to come up empty when Maton hit a weak ground ball back to the mound.
But he couldn’t get out of the seventh unscathed. Jean Segura hit a one-out single to right before Maton struck with his home run on an 0-2 count.
Maton is the first player to hit multiple home runs this season against Alcantara, who has allowed just 15 home runs all season. It was also just the fifth home run Alcantara has allowed on an 0-2 count in his career and first this season.
On the season, Alcantara has a 2.43 ERA, which is the sixth-best among all qualified pitchers and second in the National League, trailing just Julio Urias (2.30).
Bryan De La Cruz scored the Marlins’ lone run of the game with a solo home run to left field in the fifth against Phillies starter Bailey Falter.
