CLEVELAND — Former FIU standout Logan Allen had an MLB debut to remember — and stopped the Miami Marlins from getting their first sweep of the 2023 season in the process.
The 24-year-old left-handed pitcher held the Marlins to just one run over six strong innings of work on Sunday to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-4 win at Progressive Field. Miami (12-10) won both games of a doubleheader against Cleveland (11-11) on Saturday by scores of 6-1 and 3-2.
The only run Allen allowed came on a Jon Berti home run in the third inning.
Other than that, he dominated Miami’s lineup, holding them to just five hits and a walk while striking out eight. Allen is Cleveland’s No. 8 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Allen, who Cleveland selected with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, was the third-highest drafted player in FIU history, behind only right-handed pitcher Josh Banks (No. 50 by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003) and catcher Aramis Garcia (No. 52 by the San Francisco Giants in 2014).
He got a lead for good in the third inning when when Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and Josh Bell hit back-to-back home runs against Miami’s Jesus Luzardo to put the Guardians up 3-1. Cleveland added a fourth run against Luzardo in the fifth inning on a Bell RBI double that scored Amed Rosario before Cleveland scored three runs against reliever George Soriano over the seventh and eighth innings.
Luzardo pitched fewer than five innings for a second consecutive start.
Avisail Garcia added a three-run home run against James Karinchak in the eighth to cut Miami’s deficit to 6-4 but Miami got no closer.
Sandy Alcantara update
Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who did not start Saturday while dealing with mild right biceps tendinitis, played catch pregame Sunday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Monday in anticipation of starting against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
This and that
— Miami is 12-0 this season when holding opponents to four runs or fewer and 0-10 when allowing more than five runs.
— Bryan De La Cruz’s nine-game hitting streak, which tied a career-long set last season, came to an end after he went 0 for 3 on Sunday, but he drew a walk in the eighth to extend his on-base streak to 11 games.
—Jorge Soler has his second three-hit game of the season, hitting a double in the first inning and singles in the fourth and eighth innings. He also drew a walk in the sixth.
