Marlins secure victory
Sandy Alcantara dominates over seven innings as Marlins beat Rays 4-1, clinching series
Sandy Alcantara shut down the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, pitching 7 innings of one-run ball while striking out seven as the Miami Marlins won 4-1 at loanDepot park AP. The victory clinched the three-game series for Miami and ended the 2026 Citrus Series in a 3-3 tie between the two Florida rivals.
The win pushed the Marlins to 29-34 on the season MLB Gameday. The Rays dropped to 37-25, and have now lost 10 of their last 13 games, scoring three or fewer runs in eight of those contests Tampa Bay Times.
Alcantara Delivers Fifth Straight Quality Start for Miami
Alcantara threw 90 pitches, 58 of them strikes, across his 7 innings RotoWire. He allowed just 5 hits and 1 walk. It was his second straight outing of at least 7 innings, and his fifth such start of the 2026 season. After posting a 5.08 ERA through much of 2025, the former Cy Young winner looks to be back to his workhorse form Miami Herald.
Sunday's game also marked the fifth straight game in which a Marlins starter went 7 or more innings AP. That streak has given Miami's bullpen a much-needed break after it was overworked early in the season. Closer Anthony Bender worked around a leadoff walk in the 9th inning to earn his second save of the year Newsday.
López Sparks Offense, Rays Error Breaks Game Open
Yandy Díaz gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single in the 3rd inning, scoring Taylor Walls WRAL. It extended Díaz's on-base streak to 21 straight games. But Miami answered in the 6th. Otto López tripled and scored on a Kyle Stowers sacrifice fly to put the Marlins up 2-1 Houston Chronicle.
The game broke open in the 7th inning. Rays catcher Hunter Feduccia made a costly fielding error on a double steal attempt by Esteury Ruiz and Jakob Marsee, allowing two runs to score Newsday. That pushed the lead to 4-1 and ended Tampa Bay's hopes of a comeback. The Rays went just 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded 4 runners MLB Gameday.
Rays Offense Sputters as Jax Gets No Support
Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax matched a season-high with 5 scoreless innings, giving up just 3 hits WRAL. But his effort went to waste. The Rays' offense has gone quiet during their recent skid. They could not solve Miami's pitching until it was too late. Manager Kevin Cash has now watched his team lose back-to-back series for the first time since April Tampa Bay Times.
Analysts have noted that the Marlins' lineup lacks traditional power but makes up for it with contact and speed Just Baseball. Otto López leads the league with a .333 batting average Washington Post. The game drew 14,525 fans at loanDepot park and finished in 2 hours and 30 minutes MLB Gameday.
Salary Floor Looms Over Both Low-Budget Rivals
Sunday's win came against a wider economic backdrop for both teams. A proposed 2027 MLB collective bargaining agreement includes a $171.2 million salary floor Sports Illustrated. The Marlins currently have the lowest payroll in baseball at $78.1 million Spotrac. The Rays are not far behind. Both teams would need to nearly double their spending if the proposal passes.
Up next, the Rays head home to face the Boston Red Sox. The Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game series starting with Max Meyer, who owns a 6-0 record and a 2.81 ERA in 2026 MLB Gameday. Both teams will need to find more consistent offense to stay relevant in their respective division races.
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