WASHINGTON (AP) — Sandy Alcantara allowed one hit over eight sparkling innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 3-0 on Monday night.
With two outs in the seventh, Josh Bell lined a single off the base of the right-field fence to end Alcantara’s no-hit bid. The right-hander then retired his next four batters, leaving with seven strikeouts and no walks after throwing 96 pitches.
Jesus Sanchez had a first-inning RBI single and Alex Jackson doubled home two runs in the ninth. Dylan Floro worked a one-hit ninth for his 11th save.
Alcantara (9-13) was perfect through five innings but Keibert Ruiz reached on second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s error to open the sixth.
In his previous start, Alcantara permitted one run on four hits in nine innings of a no-decision against the Mets, striking out a career-high 14.
Brewers ace Corbin Burnes combined with reliever Josh Hader on the record ninth no-hitter in the majors this season Saturday night against Cleveland, breaking a mark set when pitchers first began throwing overhand in 1884.
Most of those no-hitters this year came before Major League Baseball cracked down on the use of illegal sticky substances by pitchers.
Six Marlins have thrown no-hitters, the last by Edinson Volquez in a 3-0 win against the Diamondbacks on June 3, 2017.
The closest thing to a hit for Washington before Bell’s single was when Juan Soto smashed a comebacker off Alcantara’s lower left leg with two outs in the fourth. The ball ricocheted to first baseman Lewin Diaz, who stepped on the bag for the out.
Alcantara walked around the infield and then slowly left the field. He spoke to manager Don Mattingly in the dugout and came out to warm up for the fifth with Mattingly and the team trainer watching.
Paolo Espino (4-5) allowed one run on six hits and three walks in six innings for Washington.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: Mattingly said C/OF Jorge Alfaro, who left Saturday’s game with left calf tightness, is day-to-day. … RHP Pablo Lopez (right rotator cuff strain) is scheduled to throw a 25-30 pitch bullpen Tuesday at the team’s spring training complex in Florida.
Nationals: Ruiz was back in the lineup after leaving Saturday’s game when he was hit in the head by a fastball from Pittsburgh’s Kyle Keller. Ruiz took a foul ball off the mask in the first inning but remained in the game. … INF Jordy Mercer (left calf strain) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Jesus Luzardo (5-7, 6.72 ERA) has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his past three starts, each a Marlins win. He faced Washington on Aug. 24 in Miami and gave up five runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (6-9, 5.31) owns a 3-0 career mark with a 0.98 ERA versus the Marlins. This year, he’s 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts against them, the win coming Aug. 24 when he allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings and struck out 10.
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