Sanoja's 3 hits and Alcantara's solid start help Marlins beat Rockies 2-1

MIAMI (AP) — Javier Sanoja had three hits, Sandy Alcantara allowed one run over seven innings and the Miami Marlins opened the season with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Alcantara (1-0) made his franchise-leading sixth start on opening day and struck out five, allowed four hits and walked two. It was a promising beginning to the season for the 2022 NL Cy Young award winner after a rollercoaster 2025 during which he went 11-13 with a 5.36 ERA while facing trade rumors.

Sanoja went 3-for-3 with a run-scoring single in the second.

The Marlins improved to 14-20 on opening day, while the Rockies fell to 17-17.

Alcantara allowed just one baserunner until the fourth inning, when Jake McCarthy hit a leadoff bunt single and stole second before being thrown out at home by right fielder Austin Slater on Hunter Goodman's single. Jordan Beck hit an RBI single later in the inning.

Miami opened the scoring in the second when designated hitter Owen Caissie hit a run-scoring double in his first at-bat with the Marlins, allowing Xavier Edwards to score from first. Caissie was a late addition to Friday’s lineup after first baseman Chris Morel was scratched because of a strained oblique.

Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless ninth for the save in his Marlins debut. TJ Rumfield hit a one-out single to give the Rockies life before Fairbanks retired Beck on a popout and Brenton Doyle on a lineout.

In his fifth career opening day start — also a franchise-best — Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland (0-1) gave up five hits and two runs while striking out two in 4 1/3 innings.

It was the third meeting on opening day for the teams, who were both expansion franchises in 1993. The Marlins and Rockies began the 2014 and 2019 seasons against each other in Miami.

Colorado RHP Michael Lorenzen (7-11, 4.64 ERA in 2025) will face Miami RHP Eury Pérez (7-6, 4.25 ERA in 2025) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar hits a singe during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Owen Caissie scores in the second inning on a single hit by Javier Sanoja during the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara stand son the mound during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Javier Sanoja drops his bat after hitting a RBI single to score Owen Caissie during the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Alex DeBrincat’s power-play goal scored 4:02 in sparked Detroit's three-goal first period, and the Red Wings rolled to a 5-2 win over the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

Marco Kasper, Lucas Raymond, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Patrick Kane, with an empty-netter, also scored. Detroit, coming off a 3-2 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday, snapped a two-game skid and moved into a tie in points with the Senators for ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings — and a point back of the New York Islanders.

John Gibson stopped 28 shots.

Tage Thompson — registering his 400th career point — and Rasmus Dahlin scored and Buffalo dropped to 0-1-2 -- its longest skid since losing three straight in regulation in early December. Alex Lyon made 15 saves and dropped to 6-1-1 since returning from the NHL’s Olympic break.

The Sabres came out flat and undisciplined and wound up trailing 3-0 with 3:54 left in the opening period when Marco Kasper converted his own rebound in front.

Detroit’s first two goals came on the power play.

DeBrincat opened the scoring by converting a rebound in front five seconds after Josh Norris was penalized for high sticking. Raymond scored with Logan Stanley in the box for interference, and was set up by Moritz Seider leaping at the blue line to bat down Ryan McLeod’s clearing attempt.

Detroit entered the day scoring an NHL-low 40 goals in the first period.

Thompson cut the lead to 3-1 with a one-timer 5:35 into the second period.

Gibson made a key save with Detroit up and 5:21 left in the first period. Laying on his side in the crease, the goalie lifted his left pad to stop Dahlin’s shot from the slot.

Red Wings: Host Philadelphia on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) reaches for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, right, clears the puck as left wing J.T. Compher looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) celebrates with defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)