Sandy Alcantara made a long-awaited return to the win column on Tuesday night, pitching five effective innings to lead the Miami Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets at loanDepot park.
Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, had not recorded a win since Sept. 3, 2023, after missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. Making his second start of the 2025 campaign, the right-hander allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four. He got a no-decision in his season debut on March 27.
Despite collecting only three hits, the Marlins capitalized on key moments to secure the win. Kyle Stowers got Miami on the board early with a two-run homer in the first inning off Mets starter Kodai Senga. The Mets responded with solo home runs from Brandon Nimmo in the second and an RBI single from Francisco Lindor in the third to tie the game at 2-2.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Griffin Conine hustled to beat out a potential inning-ending double play. That set the stage for Graham Pauley, who delivered a clutch two-out, two-run double to left-center, giving Miami a 4-2 lead.
The Marlins bullpen preserved the lead with a strong performance. Ronny Henriquez threw two scoreless innings in relief of Alcantara, followed by a perfect eighth from Lake Bachar. In the ninth, the Mets threatened with two runners on, but Anthony Bender shut the door by retiring Mark Vientos and Jesse Winker to earn his first save of the season.
Lindor, who returned to the Mets lineup after missing Monday’s game for the birth of his son, had an RBI single but also committed two fielding errors. He snapped an 0-for-12 slump to start the season with his hit in the third inning.
Senga (0-1) took the loss in his 2025 debut, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits over five innings. He struck out eight and walked one. The right-hander was making his return after being limited to just one regular-season start last year due to shoulder, calf, and triceps injuries.
Conine’s hustle in the fourth inning prevented an inning-ending double play, allowing Pauley to come through with his game-winning two-run double.
With the win, the Marlins secured a winning homestand, having taken three of four from Pittsburgh to start the season.
The Marlins and Mets wrap up their series on Wednesday. New York will send RHP Clay Holmes (0-1, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against Miami’s RHP Connor Gillispie (0-1, 5.40 ERA).
