Alcantara etches his name in Marlins history with 1,002nd K

MIAMI -- As a young kid from Azua, Dominican Republic, playing baseball started out as fun for Sandy Alcantara. Once he realized it could be the ticket to a better life for his family, his determination led him to getting better every day.

Already the franchise’s sole National League Cy Young Award winner, Alcantara once again etched his place into Marlins history by becoming its strikeout leader during Tuesday night’s 6-4 win over the Rangers at loanDepot park.

“Very proud of myself, the way that I've been growing here, in this organization, and grateful for all the opportunities that this team gives to me, day by day,” Alcantara said. “Tonight was a great night for me, for my family, my teammates, the city, everybody who watched the game. Very happy about the win. We lost yesterday, but today I came here with the mentality that I’ve got to do my best to win the game.”

Alcantara, who entered his start with 998 K’s as a Marlin, needed four to surpass right-hander Ricky Nolasco (1,001) and did just that.

• Each team's all-time strikeout leader

After laboring over the first two innings (39 pitches) and struggling to find a putaway offering due to Texas’ aggressiveness, Alcantara recorded his first strikeout of the game in the third when Brandon Nimmo fouled off a changeup that catcher Joe Mack held onto to end an 11-pitch at-bat. In the fifth, Alcantara caught Wyatt Langford looking on a sinker and bested Nimmo again on a changeup to end the frame.

Thanks to an efficient seven-pitch sixth, manager Clayton McCullough sent Alcantara back out for the seventh at 94 pitches. Everyone knew what was at stake, and the preference was for him to accomplish the milestone at home.

Alcantara’s momentous strikeout was the second out of the inning, fanning Kyle Higashioka on a slider down and away. Mack stood in front of the plate so that Alcantara could soak in the moment, tipping his cap to the crowd and receiving a congratulatory message on the Jumbotron.

When Alcantara followed that up with a two-out walk, he exited the field to a standing ovation.

“‘Enjoy this walk back in here that you don't like usually when I take the ball from you, but tonight should be one of those that you enjoy and soak it all in,’” McCullough recalled saying.

The 30-year-old, still one of baseball’s premier workhorses with an MLB-high 110 innings, rose to the top of the franchise leaderboard in a shorter timeframe than Nolasco.

• Alcantara (2018-present): 186 starts, 1,177 innings and eight seasons
• Nolasco (2006-13): 213 games (197 starts), 1,225 2/3 innings and eight seasons

This isn’t the first milestone Alcantara has accomplished this month. Two starts ago in Pittsburgh, Alcantara became the fifth active Dominican-born pitcher to reach 1,000 career strikeouts. Prior to joining the Marlins as the centerpiece return in the Marcell Ozuna trade, he recorded 10 strikeouts in 8 1/3 frames for the Cardinals as a September 2017 callup.

The Marlins’ franchise boasts legends like World Series hero Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis over its 34 seasons. Alcantara might go down as its best for a multitude of reasons.

“A franchise record is a big deal,” McCullough said. “It's a tough thing to do. It takes longevity, it takes certainly to be really good to be able to stay in a place long enough and be able to have an accolade, a record like that. So, it's a testament to how good Sandy's been, what he means to this organization, this city, the fan base.

“[It’s] nothing but class everything he does. So I'm very privileged to have the chance to manage him and watch him get to do things like this and help us win. So, tip of the cap to him.”

Not only did Alcantara set the record but he also collected his fifth consecutive quality start in June by giving up just one run over 6 2/3 innings. He scattered five hits and walked three to go along with the four strikeouts.

Alcantara’s season ERA has lowered from 4.66 to 4.01 thanks to a 2.60 ERA in five June starts. Despite three starters being sidelined, Miami has gone 15-5 this month while Alcantara has regained his form.

The Marlins slugged three home runs for the sixth time this season (5-1 record) to support Alcantara, who also surpassed the late José Fernández for most wins in loanDepot park history (30).

“When I got drafted by the Marlins in ’21 he was the whole talk, of course, just ‘The Caballo,’ and that was my goal to be able to come up here and be able to help him and catch him and win some ballgames together,” Mack said. “It's pretty cool, and now we're living it out, so very cool, and I thank God for that every day.”