Sandy Alcantara, Marlins shut out Rockies to earn series split

MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara pitched eight crisp innings, Jorge Alfaro drove in two runs and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 3-0 on Sunday.

Alcantara allowed four hits, struck out six and walked none in his longest outing in 15 major league appearances. The 23-year-old right-hander retired 14 straight hitters before Ryan McMahon reached on a two-out infield single in the seventh.

Alcantara (1-0) also picked up his major league hit on a line-drive single to left in the fifth.

The Rockies threatened in the ninth when former Miami starter Wei-Yin Chen surrendered a leadoff double to Charlie Blackmon and walked David Dahl. Chen, in the fourth year of an $80 million, five-year contract, left to a chorus of boos from the crowd of 7,559.

Sergio Romo came in and retired three in a row for his first save with the Marlins, finishing a five-hitter.

Colorado right-hander Jon Gray departed after he felt discomfort after a pitch to Alcantara with two out in the seventh. Gray (0-1) struck out 10 and was charged with three runs and five hits.

Alfaro hit a two-run single in the fourth and JT Riddle went deep in the sixth. It was Riddle’s second of the season and No. 5 for the Marlins — all solo shots.

Colorado star Nolan Arenado went 0 for 4, snapping his 12-game hitting streak that carried over from last season.

Sunday’s attendance, added to the combined crowds of 14,145 Friday and Saturday, failed to surpass the opening total of 25,423.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Rockies: 1B Daniel Murphy will see a hand specialist in Arizona on Monday for further evaluation of his fractured left index finger. Murphy got hurt in the Rockies’ 6-1 win over Miami on Friday. Murphy, who signed a two-year contract with the Rockies in the offseason, will be sidelined indefinitely.

Marlins: OF Garrett Cooper has been placed on the injured list because of a strained left calf. Cooper got hurt during Friday’s game and pinch-hit on Saturday. OF Peter O’Brien was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.