On Tuesday night at loanDepot Park, Sandy Alcantara reminded everyone why ,when healthy, he’s still one of baseball’s most dominant arms.

The former Cy Young Award winner turned in one of his finest performances of the season, striking out nine across seven innings in the Marlins’ 6–2 win over the Cardinals (63-65). With the victory, Miami (60-67) avoided the sweep and stalled the Cardinals momentum.

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“First, I wanna say thank God for keeping me up in the game and allowing me to do my job,” Alcantara said postgame. “I didn’t know I had that energy out there… that last strikeout, oh yeah. It was great.”

Alcantara scattered five hits, walked just one and gave up only one earned run. He leaned on a sharp changeup and a 97-mph sinker that helped him punch out four of the last six batters he faced. It was his second quality start since the trade deadline — and he said it’s no coincidence.

“I think I’m 100% healthy,” said Alcantara, who’s working back from Tommy John surgery. “ I just gotta keep doing what I’ve been doing. For me, it’s time to be out there like today and just keep at them.”

Manager Clayton McCullough kept it short: “Sandy is the story.”

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But he wasn’t the only one.

Jakob Marsee continued his eye-catching rookie campaign. The center fielder went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI in the third. In just 20 games since his call-up, he’s batting .359 with four home runs, 19 RBIs, seven stolen bases and a 1.174 OPS — making him a key part of Miami’s future core.

“Every single day I get here, just try to get a win,” Marsee said. “That’s all I really care about. I work hard every day trying to get better… and at the same time, I feel blessed to be here.”

Marsee’s poise in the box has mirrored his even-keeled nature off the field — a mindset he credits to the people around him. Having close friends like Graham Pauley and teammates like Kyle Stowers has helped him stay grounded, even as the spotlight gets brighter.

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“Even if I have a bad at-bat or something, Stowers will just tell me something to get my mind of fit,” Marsee said.

When he’s not at the ballpark, Marsee leans on a different set of outlets to reset and recharge.

“I talk to my friends, family, girlfriend… and we’ve been playing a lot of Fortnite,” he said with a laugh.

Xavier Edwards, meanwhile, went 0-for-4 with a walk in tonight’s game, but remains one of the National League’s steadiest hitters. He entered the night second in the NL in batting average, trailing only the Dodgers’ Will Smith.

When asked how he manages to stay steady during the grind of a long season, Edwards offered a humble shrug — the kind that matches his smooth, day-to-day approach at the plate. The 26-year-old has been remarkably consistent in his first full year.

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“I’m glad it comes off that way,” Edwards said. “You try your best to just help the team win every day. That’s all I can try to do — come to the yard, do some big things, little things, whatever it is.”

He’s also made a point to separate the game from his personal life.

“I try to be all in when I’m here,” Edwards said. “But after the game, I try not to bring it home. My fiancée doesn’t deserve to see a different version of me depending on how I did. She and my family have been a great support system and I try to be the same with them.”

One of the biggest moments of the night came from a name not many knew before first pitch.

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Rookie Maximo Acosta, who was called up on August 18, delivered a swing he’ll never forget.

In the sixth inning, he turned on a 2-0 pitch and crushed it over the center field wall for his first major league hit and home run — a solo shot that stretched the Marlins’ lead to 5–2. Acosta, who had walked earlier in the game, nearly had a second RBI knock in the eighth but settled for a loud lineout to center. Still, it was a performance that offered a glimpse into his promise.

Manager McCullough, who predicted an Acosta hit pregame, mentioned that the 22-year-old became part of a select group of players to not only reach the show, but homer for their first MLB hit.