MIAMI -- Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara is back.
Alcantara became the first Miami starter in 11 years to complete seven innings on Opening Day in the Marlins’ 2-1 victory over the Rockies on Friday night at loanDepot park.
Alcantara, who struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery in 2025, looked more like his ‘22 NL Cy Young self while mowing down Colorado’s lineup. He required just 73 pitches to limit the Rockies to one unearned run, with five strikeouts, two walks and four hits -- all singles.
The longest-tenured Marlin also got some help from a host of newcomers.
Veteran Austin Slater, signed by the Marlins on Wednesday to hit against left-handers, initially kept the Rockies off the scoreboard in the fourth. When Hunter Goodman singled to right field, Slater fired a 92.5 mph throw on one hop to catcher Agustín Ramírez to tag out Jake McCarthy trying to score from second.
Following a forceout at second, however, Gold Glove-winning utility player Javier Sanoja committed an error at third base to keep the inning alive. Alcantara walked the next batter before allowing an RBI infield single to Jordan Beck.
But Slater wasn’t the only newcomer to make a strong first impression.
The left-handed-hitting Owen Caissie, who wasn’t in the original lineup due to southpaw Kyle Freeland starting, opened the scoring in the second with an RBI double to the left-center gap in his first at-bat as a Marlin.
Caissie, ranked as the Marlins’ No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 42 overall prospect, was the centerpiece return in the Edward Cabrera trade with the Cubs in January.
World Baseball Classic hero Sanoja followed with an RBI single to left, which proved to be the difference.
Southpaw Andrew Nardi, who hadn’t pitched in a big league game since Aug. 21, 2024, took over for Alcantara in the eighth and recorded two outs. Right-hander Anthony Bender then stranded runners on the corners by striking out Willi Castro to end the threat.
That set the stage for righty Pete Fairbanks, whom the Marlins signed to a franchise-record deal this offseason, to record his first save in a scoreless ninth.