Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara was removed from a game he was pitching exceptionally well in, leading to frustration.
Alcantara took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning before the Cincinnati Reds mounted a comeback. He was pulled with one out after allowing a double and a walk. The reliever could not hold the lead, and the Reds tied the game, eventually winning 6-3 in extra innings.
Alcantara, who allowed only three hits and struck out six, felt he deserved to be consulted before the managerial decision. "I think I deserve to be asked how I feel before taking me out of the game at 95 pitches and with a righty on deck," Alcantara stated.
Manager Clayton McCullough cited playing the percentages against a lineup seeing Alcantara for the fourth time, believing the reliever was the best option to secure the win. He acknowledged the decision did not feel good after the loss.
Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young winner, had a 0.74 ERA with 18 strikeouts through three starts this season before the two earned runs were charged to him.