MIAMI — With 32,459 packed into loanDepot park, the Miami Marlins made sure to send their fans home happy.
Led by right-hander Sandy Alcantara’s seven brilliant innings and a two-run second, the Marlins moved to 1-0 with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies (0-1) on Friday at loanDepot park.
It is the second consecutive year under manager Clayton McCullough that the Marlins have won on Opening Day.
“Sandy was terrific,” McCullough said.
Alcantara had thrown 73 pitches entering the bottom of the seventh, but McCullough chose to turn the game over to his bullpen.
The Marlins opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, with the bottom of the order coming through for the club.
After Heriberto Hernández led off the inning with a fly out, Xavier Edwards, Owen Caissie, and Javier Sanoja reached base safely.
Caissie, replacing Christopher Morel, who was scratched from the lineup with a left oblique strain, delivered an RBI double to bring home Edwards.
McCullough said after the game that Morel will undergo further evaluation on Saturday, and the team will know more then.
Sanoja, finishing the night 3-for-3, drove home the second Marlins run.
“That was a pretty good baseball game,” Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks said.
“Someone called it a classic baseball game. You hit enough, you pitch well, you play pretty good defense, and you win baseball games,” he added.
Other game notes:
- Alcantara allowed just one run Friday, and it was unearned.
- Pete Fairbanks earned his first save with the Marlins.
- Andrew Nardi, making his first appearance since Aug. 21, 2024, threw 2/3 scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out two.
- Jakobe Marsee first stolen base for the Marlins.
- The Marlins were 2-for-3 in ABS challenges with Agustín Ramírez behind the plate.
- Friday marked the first time the Marlins have won on Opening Day in consecutive seasons since 2004 and 2005.
- Connor Norby said the Marlins told him around 4:30 p.m. during batting practice that he would be starting at first base.
Next: Right-hander Eury Pérez takes the mound Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET as the Marlins look for their first 2-0 start in the McCullough era.
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