Marlins made a massive Sandy Alcantara mistake — and the Reds were thrilled

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Marlins made a massive Sandy Alcantara mistake — and the Reds were thrilled originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

They're the Miami Marlins, so there won't be any national sports talk shows devoted to this decision for even a second on Wednesday.

But what they did Tuesday night was a massive mistake so egregious that it deserves discussion.

They were leading 2-0 in the ninth inning, Sandy Alcantara still having thrown fewer than 100 pitches, two guys on with the big righty going for a complete game.

Alcantara had given up a double and a walk, and the Marlins went to the bullpen.

But this wasn't even a call to their usual closer. Pete Fairbanks is away from the team for the birth of a child.

That meant Anthony Bender came in, and he blew the save in a game the Cincinnati Reds won 6-3 in 10 innings.

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Alcantara, instead of being logically allowed to try and finish off his complete game, was yanked and could only watch helplessly as his bullpen blew it.

This isn't even just some kind of 2026-era issue. Managers would've pulled pitchers in tight spots in past years, too.

It's just that on this night, Alcantara was showing the stuff that he had back when he was a Cy Young winner. It had been a while, but this season, Alcantara has looked like that former star once again.

The Marlins didn't have anyone better in their bullpen, even if Fairbanks was available, and he wasn't.

Alcantara wasn't just the fun choice to try to finish the game. He was the best choice. The Marlins didn't have any arm like his out in the bullpen.

It's been a fast start to the season for Miami, which had a chance at a fantastic win on Tuesday night.

Instead, the decision to pull Alcantara backfired in an ugly way.

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