Sandy Alcantara Dominates as Marlins Cruise to 10-0 Rout of White Sox

By Rosemary

Sandy Alcantara delivered a masterful performance Wednesday, pitching the first complete game of the Major League Baseball season and leading the Miami Marlins to a commanding 10-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Alcantara needed just 93 pitches to shut down Chicago’s lineup, showcasing the dominance that earned him the 2022 National League Cy Young Award.

This outing marked Alcantara’s second career shutout with fewer than 100 pitches, a rare achievement known in baseball circles as a “Maddux,” named after Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. It also extended his career tally of complete games to 13, reaffirming his reputation as one of the league’s most efficient and overpowering pitchers.

The Marlins’ offense was led by Liam Hicks, who showcased a blend of power and consistency. Hicks launched a home run, added two singles, and drove in four runs, pushing his major league-leading RBI total to 12. Fellow outfielder Otto López also contributed a solo home run, while Graham Pauley doubled twice, helping Miami wrap up a homestand with a 5-1 record—the team’s strongest start to a season since 2020.

Alcantara’s dominance on the mound was evident from the outset. Following a strong outing in the season opener against Colorado, he extended his scoreless streak to 15 innings. The Marlins ace struck out seven, allowed just three singles, and hit one batter, effectively neutralizing the White Sox lineup throughout the game.

Miami struck early, sending a message in the first inning with a four-run outburst against White Sox starter Shane Smith. Hicks opened the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a run-scoring double from Connor Norby. Both runners later scored on a single from Owen Caissie, giving the Marlins a commanding lead after just one inning.

Hicks added to the lead in the second inning with a two-run home run, sending Smith’s slider over the right-field wall for his third homer of the young season. The Marlins continued to pile on runs as Javier Sanoja drove in two more in the third inning, further cementing Miami’s dominance.

Late-inning contributions added insurance runs for the Marlins, with Hicks recording another RBI single in the sixth and López connecting for a home run off White Sox reliever Jordan Leasure in the eighth. By the final out, Miami had scored ten runs on a combination of power hitting, timely doubles, and aggressive base running.

For the White Sox, Smith (0-2) struggled to contain the Marlins, lasting just three innings while surrendering eight runs on seven hits. His early-season numbers now reflect a challenging start, allowing 12 runs and 15 hits over just 4 2/3 innings in his first two starts.

Looking ahead, Chicago will send Sean Burke (0-1, 6.75 ERA) to the mound for Thursday’s home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays”], with Dylan Cease (0-0, 1.69 ERA) starting for Toronto. The Marlins will open a three-game series at the New York Yankees with Eury Pérez (0-0, 3.86 ERA) facing off against LHP Ryan Weathers (0-0, 3.86 ERA) in the Yankees’ home opener.

Alcantara’s performance and the Marlins’ balanced offense highlight a team firing on all cylinders early in the season, combining efficient pitching with aggressive hitting, and setting the stage for what could be one of Miami’s most competitive starts in years.