MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara enjoyed a big lead early and finished with a flourish.
Buoyed by uncharacteristic run support, Alcantara had a career-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings Saturday night to help the Miami Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds for the first time in six meetings this year, 6-1.
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Alcantara (8-12) allowed one run and retired the last 11 batters he faced, seven by strikeout.
The Marlins had totaled one run in Alcantara’s past two starts and have struggled to score for him all season. But Jesús Sánchez hit a three-run homer against Vladimir Gutiérrez as Miami gave Alcantara a 5-0 lead after one inning.