MIAMI — Sandy Alcantara pitched a six-hitter and the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Sunday.
The 26-year-old-Alcantara (4-2) limited the Braves to three unearned runs and six hits. He walked two and struck out seven for his fourth career complete game.
“I’m excited every time I go nine innings,” Alcantara said. “They know that I go out with the mentality to finish the game. They believe in me and they gave me the opportunity.”
Atlanta star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. had two of the hits against Alcantara, extending his on base games streak to 29.
Travis d’Arnaud‘s at-bat to lead off the ninth was extended after Miami first baseman Jesus Aguilar dropped a popup. D’Arnaud doubled and scored on Ozzie Albies‘ double to make it 4-2. Albies advanced to third on a fly out to right and scored on Dansby Swanson‘s RBI groundout.
Alcantara got Adam Duvall on a pop-up to catcher Jacob Stallings to complete his 115-pitch outing. In his last three starts covering 24 innings, Alcantara has allowed two earned runs. He lowered his ERA to 2.11.
“A guy like Agui, he is working so hard to catch the ball and get the out, I don’t feel bad,” Alcantara said of Aguilar’s muff. “This is just a game. Put it aside and throw the perfect pitch after that error.”
Brian Anderson and Stallings doubled, singled and had RBIs each for the Marlins, who avoided the three-game sweep.
Anderson’s go-ahead RBI single in the sixth put Miami ahead 2-1. The Marlins were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and 2-for-27 in the series before Anderson’s hit to left-field scored Garrett Cooper from second.
“To be able to scratch a few across was big for us,” Anderson said. “We did a good job of getting guys on base early and it was only a matter of time until we drove one home with runners in scoring position.”
Stallings increased Miami’s lead with his run scoring single off Atlanta starter Ian Anderson in the seventh. Anderson (3-3) allowed four runs, seven…