AP

Alcantara retires last 20 batters, Marlins beat Nats 8-2

May 16, 2022, 7:05 AM | Updated: 8:04 pm

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the third inning of a baseball game ag...

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)


              Washington Nationals' Yadiel Hernandez (29) reacts after he struck out swinging during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals' Juan Soto grounds out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, left, and starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez (45) talk during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, left, and starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez (45) talk during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. gestures after hitting a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. watches after hitting an RBI-single to score Erik Gonzalez during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Washington Nationals pitching coach Jim Hickey (48) approaches the mound to talk with starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins' Bryan De La Cruz, left, and teammate Brian Anderson (15) score on a single hit by Erik Gonzalez during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) prepares to throw during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
            
              Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, May 16, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara retired his last 20 batters, pitching three-hit ball over eight innings to lead Miami over the Washington Nationals 8-2 Monday night and give the Marlins just their fourth win in 15 games.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Bryan De La Cruz had three hits each, and Avisaíl García homered for the Marlins, who had 16 hits and matched their second-highest total this season.

Alcantara (3-2) needed 43 pitches to get through the first two innings and 57 for innings three through eight. Washington had three hits in the first, including Yadiel Hernández’s RBI single, and had the bases loaded with one out before Maikel Franco grounded into a forceout at home and Lane Thomas struck out.

“After the first inning, just felt a little tired, but after that I said, ‘I’ve got to be outside and win this game, compete pitch by pitch.’/” Alcantara said.

Alcantara struck out five, walked one and hit a pair of batters. And the string of retired Nationals to finish his outing left Alcantara elated.

“That means a lot,” Alcantara said. “I’ve never done that. I feel so happy with that.”

Alcantara’s start was moved up a day after left-hander Jesús Luzardo went on the injured list Sunday.

“When he’s rolling like that, it’s fun to watch,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s in and out of innings quick, throwing strikes. Everything’s working.”

Aaron Sanchez (2-3) allowed four runs, eight hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. Washington has lost nine of 12 and is last in the NL East at 12-25.

García’s leadoff homer tied it at 1-all and started a four-run second. Erik González had a two-run single and scored on Chisholm’s RBI single.

Miami increased its lead with a four-run seventh keyed by Jorge Soler’s two-run single and García’s RBI single.

Signed to a $48 million, four-year deal as a free agent deal during the offseason, García has three homers and nine RBIs.

“Things haven’t gone as expected but it is part of the game,” García said. “You have to continue battling and improving. It is a super-long season and you need to remain positive.”

Thomas had an RBI single in the ninth for an unearned run off Anthony Bass, who finished a five-hitter.

“We had him early,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Alcantara. “We had some opportunities. We couldn’t cash in.”

ROSTER MOVE

The Marlins optioned 1B Lewin Díaz to Triple-A Jacksonville and recalled LHP Daniel Castano. Díaz had been promoted from the minor league club on Sunday and his brief stay with the Marlins ended without a game appearance.

WELCOME BACK

Nationals infielder Dee Strange-Gordon went 0 for 4 in his first game against the Marlins since the club traded him following the 2017 season. Gordon became the first of the Marlins core group of players, which also featured Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and J.T. Realmuto, to be dealt after new ownership took over in 2018. As the Marlins’ leadoff hitter in 2015, Gordon won the NL batting title and also led the league in steals and hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: DH Nelson Cruz was a late scratch after he didn’t feel well, manager Dave Martinez said.

Marlins: INF José Devers (shoulder) returned from rehab and was optioned to Double-A Pensacola.

UP NEXT

RHP Joan Adon (1-6, 7.03) will start for the Nationals on Tuesday while RHP Cody Poteet (0-0, 0.55) will make his first start of the season for the Marlins after eight relief appearances.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Alcantara retires last 20 batters, Marlins beat Nats 8-2