Sandy Alcantara took the ball on Thursday fresh off an eight-inning, one-run gem and a complete game shutout. In his past four starts before facing the Giants, the ace posted a 0.83 ERA.
It’s only May, but Alcantara had thrust himself into Cy Young contention. Then when his team needed another stroke of brilliance against the Giants’ third-ranked run-producing offense, he provided seven shutout innings.
San Francisco (27-23) couldn’t touch Alcantara, who fanned eight in seven innings. Just one of SF’s three hits against the righty left the infield. By the time the Giants finally chased Alcantara out of the game, they trailed 3-0 — the score that quickly turned final.
The Marlins, having played a doubleheader in Coors Field before flying back home to Miami for the Giants series, didn’t show signs of attrition. They struck first with two singles and a walk in the second inning, but Wood stranded two runners in scoring position to slip out of the inning.
Still, residual effects from the previous day’s double header lingered, as the Marlins had used eight relievers across 19 innings. They needed Alcantara to pitch deep into the game, and he delivered with 111 pitches.
Two of their most reliable left-handed hitters, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt, were unavailable against Alcantara. Crawford got scratched from the lineup due to a non-COVID illness, and Belt still hasn’t returned from the injured list (knee soreness). Without them, MIke Yastrzemski recorded the only hit out of the infield off Miami’s ace.
Alcantara returned to the mound at 104 pitches for the seventh inning. That’s when former Giant Luke Williams robbed Luis González of an extra-base hit with a leaping grab on the left field warning track.
In his seven innings, Alcantara struck out González and Mike Yastrzemski twice apiece. Wilmer Flores, Joc Pederson, Thairo Estrada, Donovan Walton and González combined to go 1-for-14.
Opposite Alcantara, Wood’s start went about as expected based on how his season’s gone so far. He made it through Miami’s lineup twice successfully, then exited before facing the middle of the Marlins order a third time. His 5.1-inning start came off what was previously his season-high of 5.2 in Cincinnati.
Camilo Doval, SF’s go-to closer, replaced Wood in the fifth. It was the earliest in a game Doval has appeared all season; 15 of his 20 appearances have come in the ninth inning or later. John Brebbia was warming up before Doval joined him in the bullpen, but appeared to abruptly halt.
Doval immediately allowed a double down the left field line to Jesus Aguillar. The run, charged to Wood, gave Miami a 2-0 edge. Then Miguel Rojas slapped a single up the middle to score Aguillar and make it 3-0. The two hits came on an inside 100 mph fastball and a slider on the outside edge of the plate.
San Francisco entered the four-game series against Miami — the final leg of its three-city road trip — at 3-3 after thrilling, tight games in Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
To return to the Bay with a winning road trip, the Giants will need to take two of the next three in Miami. The Marlins have a strong rotation, but there are no more Sandy Alcantaras standing in the way.
