Marlins’ big day: Alcantara throws off a mound before the team beats the Orioles again

Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara threw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October, and the bullpen session yielded immense optimism.

“The ball just came out pretty good from my hand,” Alcantara said hours before the Marlins’ 6-3 win against the Orioles at loanDepot park. The 28-year-old right-hander guessed that he threw 20 pitches during the bullpen.

“I don’t feel tired. I don’t feel anything in my elbow. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing, try to get better every day, and let’s see when is my next bullpen.”

Moving forward, Alcantara plans to throw “a couple more bullpens.”

Recovery from Tommy John requires at least 12 months — and often a few months more — so the 2022 Cy Young winner won’t pitch this season.

Still, Wednesday marked a significant milestone for Alcantara.

“It means a lot,” he said. “Watching from here, I don’t like that. So, I’ve been getting frustrated a little bit. Today, I got an opportunity to be on the mound, and everything was good.”

Manager Skip Schumaker said he paid no attention to Alcantara’s velocity.

“I was just so happy to see him on the mound in a full uni and sweating a little bit,” Schumaker said. “It looked fast enough for me. First bullpen, you’re not looking to air it out. It’s really exciting for him, and [for] the organization to see your guy on the mound.

“It’s part of the progression, just like everyone who goes through [Tommy John surgery], but obviously it’s a bigger story because it’s a Cy Young winner back on the mound with no setbacks. Hopefully, fingers crossed, no setbacks moving forward, either.”

Alcantara said he has trained daily — working “non-stop” since the surgery nine months ago and without worry “because the doctor did a great job.”

He’s also prioritized being around teammates during recovery and requested to travel with them for away games.

“I want to be here every day,” Alcantara said. “I don’t want to be sitting in my house watching on TV. I’ve got to be here because I want to see my friends, my teammates, and get that support from them.”

Like Alcantara, several Marlins starting pitchers have missed time this season because of injury, including Wednesday’s starter Edward Cabrera.

Cabrera, who spent two stints on the injured list, allowed the Orioles three runs on three hits in 5.1 innings.

“I was feeling really, really good,” Cabrera said.

“The first four innings were as good as he’s pitched all year,” Schumaker said. “Lefties and righties, it really didn’t matter. He was on a roll. Fifth inning was OK, and that’s why I should have had somebody [warming up in the bullpen] in the sixth inning just in case.”

With one out in the fifth, Cabrera walked consecutive batters. After a meeting on the mound, he struck out Rámon Urias and got Gunnar Henderson to ground out.

Things fell apart the next inning, though, as Cabrera lost a 3-0 lead.

The right-hander was yanked after he surrendered back-to-back singles to Anthony Santander and Ryan O’Hearn, and walked the next batter, Heston Kjerstad.

Reliever Huascar Brazobán retired the first batter he faced, but Cowser tied the score with a three-run double to right field.

The Marlins surged ahead again in the seventh, scoring three runs to equal their fourth-inning tally.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had two RBI Tuesday, drilled a two-run double to left and Bryan De La Cruz brought home Chisholm with an RBI single to right.

The Marlins built their first lead in the fourth on Josh Bell’s 414-foot home run to right center, Xavier Edwards’ RBI single and Nick Gordon’s sacrifice fly.

“I can’t praise our lineup enough tonight for the quality of at-bats we had,” said Edwards, who tied his career high with three hits and drew a walk.

The shortstop is hitting .381 (24 for 63) with 10 runs scored and six RBI in July.

“X Edwards was fantastic today,” Schumaker said. “We knew he was going to get on base and hit. Honestly, I didn’t know he was going to hit this good. He’s impressing me more and more from the left and right side.”

“It definitely feels good to help the team win,” Edwards said. “That’s what I feel like I can do. Just come in every day, do my best, and try to do the little things.”

Orioles starter Chayce McDermott, making his MLB debut, was replaced after the fourth, and the Marlins duplicated Tuesday’s winning score against the American League’s best team.

“We’re not in the position we thought we were going to be in coming out of spring training,” Schumaker said. “So, for them to come out and play as hard as they are right now, stealing bases, running the bases the right way…they’re playing the game hard.

“I cannot be more grateful and thankful for the effort they’re putting in. We have 50-something games left against playoff-caliber teams. This is when you show what you’re made of and try to put yourself like you’re in a playoff push.”

Said Edwards: “For us, it doesn’t feel like the dog days. It kind of feels like we’re just getting rolling, honestly.”

Sanchez starts again

Alí Sánchez started behind the plate for the third consecutive game. Nick Fortes is fine physically, Schumaker said, and two catchers will split starts the rest of this season.

Marlins’ pitchers enjoy working with Sánchez, he scouts opponents well, and he excels defensively, Schumaker noted. “He does little things. And maybe he’ll provide some offense. You don’t know until you give him a shot.”