Opening Day at loanDepot park delivered everything a baseball fan could hope for: elite pitching, late-inning drama, and a walk-off victory. The Miami Marlins stunned the Pittsburgh Pirates with a thrilling 5-4 comeback win, capped by Kyle Stowers’ walk-off single in the ninth inning.
The game marked a triumphant return for Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who took the mound for the first time in 571 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Unfazed by the moment, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner looked like his dominant self early on, holding the Pirates hitless through 4 2/3 innings.
Alcantara, known for his stoic nature and ability to thrive on the biggest stages—whether in the postseason, World Baseball Classic, or All-Star Game—entered the field ahead of his teammates, feeling grateful for the moment. His walkout song, “Agradecido,” was chosen at the suggestion of mentee Eury Pérez, reflecting his appreciation for his return to the mound.
In a classic Opening Day duel, Alcantara faced off against reigning National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, who made history as the youngest Pirates Opening Day starter since Frank Killen in 1893.
Through the first four innings, Alcantara was vintage, striking out seven batters and keeping the Pirates off balance. One strike away from taking a no-hitter into the sixth, Alcantara surrendered a single to Ke’Bryan Hayes before issuing back-to-back walks. His outing ended when Bryan Reynolds laced a go-ahead two-run single. Alcantara threw 91 pitches, including a dominant stretch in which he struck out the side in the third inning.
Skenes, meanwhile, showcased why he’s one of baseball’s most electrifying young pitchers. The Pirates’ phenom went 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven while allowing just two earned runs on three hits and two walks. His fastball topped out at a blistering 99.9 mph, accounting for four of his strikeouts. Defensive miscues played a role in Miami’s early scoring, including an error that led to the first run Skenes allowed, while a passed ball after his departure contributed to another.
Despite trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Miami’s bats came alive. A two-run eighth inning cut the deficit to one before Nick Fortes, who hadn’t tripled since 2022, led off the ninth with a three-bagger against Pittsburgh closer David Bednar. With one out, Stowers came through in the clutch, lacing a single to right field to bring home the winning run—delivering the Marlins their first-ever Opening Day walk-off victory.
Alcantara’s return and Miami’s late-inning heroics set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season. For the Pirates, Skenes’ strong start was a silver lining in a game that slipped away late. But for Miami, the comeback win, fueled by resilience and timely hitting, made Opening Day one to remember.
