Alcantara's Strong Start Lifts Marlins To Opening Weekend Split With Rockies
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — One thing the rebuilding Miami Marlins will offer this season is a plethora of young, electric pitchers.
Sandy Alcantara tossed eight crisp innings, Jorge Alfaro drove in two runs and the Marlins took down the Colorado Rockies 3-0 on Sunday to earn a split of the season-opening four-game set.
Alcantara allowed four hits, struck out six and walked none in his longest outing in 15 major league appearances.
The 23-year-old right-hander retired 14 straight hitters before Ryan McMahon reached on a two-out infield single in the seventh.
Alcantara (1-0) also picked up his major league hit on a line-drive single to left in the fifth.
The Rockies threatened in the ninth when former Miami starter Wei-Yin Chen surrendered a leadoff double to Charlie Blackmon and walked David Dahl.
Chen, in the fourth year of an $80 million, five-year contract, left to a chorus of boos from the crowd of 7,559.
Sergio Romo came in and retired three in a row for his first save with the Marlins, finishing a five-hitter.
Colorado right-hander Jon Gray departed after he felt discomfort after a pitch to Alcantara with two out in the seventh. Gray (0-1) struck out 10 and was charged with three runs and five hits.
Alfaro hit a two-run single in the fourth and JT Riddle went deep in the sixth. It was Riddle's second of the season and No. 5 for the Marlins — all solo shots.
Colorado star Nolan Arenado went 0 for 4, snapping his 12-game hitting streak that carried over from last season.
Sunday's attendance, added to the combined crowds of 14,145 Friday and Saturday, failed to surpass the opening total of 25,423.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Rockies: 1B Daniel Murphy will see a hand specialist in Arizona on Monday for further evaluation of his fractured left index finger. Murphy got hurt in the Rockies' 6-1 win over Miami on Friday. Murphy, who signed a two-year contract with the Rockies in the offseason, will be sidelined indefinitely.
Marlins: OF Garrett Cooper has been placed on the injured list because of a strained left calf. Cooper got hurt during Friday's game and pinch-hit on Saturday. OF Peter O'Brien was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis pitches Monday against Tampa Bay.
Marlins: LHP Caleb Smith will make his season debut when Miami faces the New York Mets on Monday. LHP Steven Matz starts for the Mets.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
