Sandy shows Cy stuff, still shy of Cy results

MIAMI -- As the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, Sandy Alcantara carries high expectations.

So when the Marlins’ ace has a subpar performance, questions are raised.

Sunday was such an afternoon, when Alcantara was charged with five runs (four earned) in six innings in the Marlins’ 5-0 loss to the D-backs at loanDepot park.

“The expectations are from everyone,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “When you win the Cy Young, you expect a shutout every single time. I still feel like he’s on the right track.”

The reason for optimism, as Schumaker noted: Alcantara struck out nine and induced his share of swings and misses. Of his 82 pitches, the D-backs swung at 46, and Alcantara recorded 16 swinging strikes. Three times the right-hander touched 100 mph, including a high of 101.1 mph. He threw 60 total strikes.

“I felt like today, he had really sharp stuff,” Schumaker said.

So what went wrong?

For starters, there was some bad luck in the second inning when left fielder Bryan De La Cruz lost Corbin Carroll’s liner in the lights. It was first ruled an error, then changed to a double. Carroll scored on Alek Thomas’ two-out RBI single.

In the sixth inning, there was Alcantara’s own error, when he dropped a flip from Garrett Cooper at first base. It went for a two-base error that allowed Josh Rojas to reach second.

“Nice play by Cooper, not by me,” Alcantara said. “My mind got a little bit out of control.”

The D-backs seized on Alcantara’s frustration and scored four times in the sixth to open a five-run lead. Pavin Smith had an RBI single, Christian Walker laced a run-scoring double and Carroll belted a first-pitch two-run homer to center.

“They jumped early on me,” Alcantara said. “Too many strikes. That happens when you throw too many strikes, they take advantage.”

As Alcantara scuffled, D-backs ace Zac Gallen was on the mark. The right-hander threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven.

“When you are facing Zac Gallen, you’re literally pitch to pitch,” Schumaker said. “Back and forth at each other. [Arizona] won today. But again, I’m not concerned about Sandy at all. I know he wants to go nine, and expects to go nine shutout every time. That’s why he’s one of the best in the league. His expectations for himself are so high.”

The Marlins’ four-game win streak was snapped, and they dropped back to .500 (8-8). Still, Miami took two of three in the series.

Sunday’s marquee pitching matchup featured starters who have roots with the Cardinals.

In December 2017, Miami acquired Alcantara and Gallen in its blockbuster trade with St. Louis for outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

“I love competing against Sandy,” Gallen said. “I’ve known Sandy since I was 21. He was 21. So [we] kind of got a little time growing up together with the Cardinals and Marlins. … I just love seeing him do well, so just competing against him was a lot of fun. I knew I would have to bring my ‘A’ game today.”

Alcantara noted that he didn’t draw any extra motivation facing a former teammate in two different organizations.

“Not for me,” Alcantara said. “I think for him. Not for me. I just want to be outside competing. It doesn’t matter what teammates, what friends or what team [you’re playing]. I just want to be able to compete.”

Adding more intrigue to the matchup was the fact that the Marlins dealt Gallen to the D-backs in July 2019 for Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Against Gallen, Chisholm was hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts.

“Jazz is a good player,” Gallen said. “I know I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game. Just try to make good pitches.”

Based on the quality of his pitches and “pure stuff,” Alcantara appears fine. What raises eyebrows is the fact that he has had two straight shaky starts. In his previous one last Monday, the right-hander was tagged for nine runs on 10 hits in four innings in a loss to the Phillies.

Strategically, the D-backs were on the attack early in counts.

“He’s a guy you don’t want to let get ahead of you,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

As dominant as Alcantara was in 2022, the league is adjusting to a pitcher who is still one of the best in the sport, regardless of his 5.84 ERA after four starts.

“I feel good,” Alcantara said. “It’s better when everything happens early in the season. I know what I have to do to get there. Just take time to think about it. Take time to improve.”