MIAMI — Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. made his way to the mound in the second inning Monday to talk to the Miami Marlins’ ace who was looking very little like the title with which he has been bestowed. Sandy Alcantara was already at 35 pitches, already had to sneak out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam an inning earlier and already had two more runners on base with just one out.
The message the coach relayed to his pitcher worked.
Alcantara retired the next 20 batters he faced and took advantage of pitching with a lead as the Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 at loanDepot park to begin a three-game series. Miami improves to 16-19, while the Nationals fall to 12-25.
