ST. PETERSBURG -- Marlins catcher Jacob Stallings could sense it. There was something a little different about Sandy Alcantara hours before he took the mound against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Wednesday afternoon.

It indicated to Miami’s catcher that something special might be in store.

“[Alcantara] was more upbeat than I’ve really ever seen him on start day,” Stallings said. “He just had energy. You could just tell he was ready to go.”

Stallings’ intuition proved prescient as Miami’s ace rolled through Tampa Bay’s offense with ease en route to his second complete game of the season in the Marlins’ 7-1 victory.

Coming into Wednesday, Alcantara’s 2023 had been marked with starts marred by big innings; no starter had allowed more four-run frames than Alcantara’s six. But the Rays could barely mount a threat against the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, who took advantage of Tampa Bay’s aggressive lineup and piled up early-count outs.

He needed just 97 pitches (74 strikes) to finish his gem, the fewest pitches thrown by a starter in a nine-inning complete game this year. It was also the first nine-inning complete game at Tropicana Field in more than five years. His final three pitches were all fastballs: 99.0 mph, 98.3 mph, 98.3 mph.

“He was freaking awesome,” Stallings said. “That kind of start has been building for him for a little while now, so it was great to see, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for us.”

Alcantara permitted only five hits, walked one batter and struck out seven. He allowed only four hard-hit balls through the first eight innings. He never threw more than 15 pitches in any inning. What worked so well?

“Everything,” Alcantara said. “As soon as the first inning through the ninth, I think everything was good today.”

The victory improved Miami’s record to 55-48, which put the club within a half-game of the final NL Wild Card spot. If the Marlins want to make the playoffs, there are two things they absolutely must have:

1. Alcantara returning to his Cy Young form
2. Their offense coming to life, especially with runners in scoring position

Item No. 1 was on full display from the very beginning, and the timely hitting followed close behind.

The Marlins had not been very effective in hitting with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break, posting a .191 average (17-for-89) in such situations entering Wednesday. But they delivered four hits in 12 chances against the Rays and ultimately scored their most runs in 11 games since the break.

Five Marlins registered multiple hits, including Stallings and third baseman Jon Berti near the bottom of the lineup. They combined for three runs scored and three RBIs and got the Marlins on the board with two outs in the second inning. Berti’s single through the middle sored Yuli Gurriel before Stallings brought him home on a line-drive double to the left-field wall.

“Berti with the huge two-out hit there, and then luckily I was able to follow it up and give us a two-run cushion,” Stallings said. “That was all [Sandy] needed.”

Needed or not, Miami’s lineup kept the pressure on with a three-run fourth inning off of starter Zach Eflin. That outburst was highlighted by Luis Arraez’s double -- the 100th of his career -- that drove in another two-out run. Arraez tacked on a second RBI later, giving him a career-high 51 for the season.

The Marlins plated five runs in four innings against Eflin, who entered having allowed only four runs through 19 innings at home this month.

Bryan De La Cruz then greeted reliever Calvin Faucher by launching the first pitch of the fifth inning 414 feet into the left-center-field seats. 

“The starting pitching set the tone and then, obviously, [we had] some really good at-bats up and down the lineup,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “... The bottom of the order was really effective.”

It would help if Miami’s offense remains as potent through the season’s final two-plus months. But the biggest development Wednesday was the return of what Schumaker called “vintage Sandy.” 

“If we have that version of Sandy in the second half, I like our chances,” he added.