Marlins hold off Diamondbacks 4-3 with Sandy Alcantara getting 1st career save

PHOENIX (AP) — Jakob Marsee hit a two-run homer and Sandy Alcantara earned his first career save as the Miami Marlins held off the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Wednesday night.

With the Marlins (76-77) on the fringe of the National League playoff race, manager Clayton McCullough called on his ace starter for the ninth inning — two days after Alcantara threw 101 pitches in a no-decision at Arizona.

Alcantara, who leads the majors with 206 innings pitched this season, got two deep flyouts before walking Lars Nootbaar. Pinch-runner Jordan Lawlar attempted to steal second but was thrown out by catcher Joe Mack to end it.

The Diamondbacks (80-73) fell 3 1/2 games behind San Diego for the final NL wild card with nine remaining.

Marsee connected for his 11th homer in the third against Merrill Kelly (9-14) with Javier Sanoja on base. Marsee also doubled to start Miami’s two-run second inning. The Marlins eventually loaded the bases and Heriberto Hernández drove in a run with an infield single. Another run scored on third baseman Nolan Arenado’s throwing error.

Hernández had four of Miami's 10 hits.

Pavin Smith, Gabriel Moreno and Arenado homered for Arizona. Moreno had three hits to raise his batting average to .307; the Phillies' Luis Arraez leads the National League at .316.

Kelly, making his 200th major league start, lasted 4 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits and four runs (three earned) with two walks and nine strikeouts.

Ryne Nelson, just activated from the 60-day injured list, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his first appearance since June 15. He had been sidelined with a strained right elbow.

Marlins starter Ryan Gusto also didn’t make it out of the fifth, allowing eight hits and two runs. Cade Gibson (5-1) got five outs for the win.

Alcantara has made 201 big league starts. His eight previous relief appearances all came as a rookie with St. Louis in 2017.

Marlins: Following a day off, RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.55 ERA) starts Friday in San Diego.

Diamondbacks: Begin a three-game series Friday against the New York Yankees at Chase Field.

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Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez, left, celebrates after tagging out Arizona Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Miami Marlins' Jakob Marsee, left, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Marlins' Deyvison De Los Santos during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Miami Marlins' Jakob Marsee, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Marlins' Javier Sanoja (8) as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, pauses at home plate during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara, left, celebrates a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Marlins manager Clayton McCullough after a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept 14, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run homer and the Cincinnati Reds at least temporarily prevented the Los Angeles Dodgers from clinching the NL West title with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night.

The Dodgers (92-60) needed a win or a loss by San Diego to win their fifth straight NL West crown and 13th in 14 seasons. The Padres won 9-3 at Colorado later Wednesday.

Left-hander Blake Snell started for the Dodgers but departed after one inning with left groin tightness. Snell, who threw a no-hitter for the Giants in his last appearance in Great American Ball Park, faced three batters, allowing a hit with a strikeout on 19 pitches.

Blake Treinen took over in the second as the first of six relievers used by Los Angeles.

Mookie Betts singled off Andrew Abbott in the third and scored on Will Smith's double to put the Dodgers ahead 1-0. Abbott allowed a run on three hits with five walks in 4 2/3 innings. Tejay Antone (3-2), the third of six Cincinnati pitchers, got the last out of the sixth.

De La Cruz's homer off Seth Halvorsen (1-2), his 28th of the season, put the Reds ahead 2-1 in the third. It was De La Cruz's fifth longball against the Dodgers this season, most of any opposing player.

Dane Myers' homer off Bobby Miller, his seventh, extended the Reds' lead to 3-1 in the fifth.

Juan Brito's RBI single made it 4-2 in the sixth.

TJ Friedl singled with the bases loaded in the seventh to drive in two runs. Sal Stewart was thrown out at the plate by Dodgers center fielder Tommy Edman to end the inning.

The Dodgers stranded 12 runners and went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

RHP Brady Singer (6-14, 5.38 ERA) will start Thursday's series finale for the Reds. The Dodgers had not announced their starter.

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with Teoscar Hernández (37) after scoring on a double hit by Will Smith during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts rounds third base on his way to score on a double hit by Will Smith during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Dane Myers, left, watches his solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is at right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Dane Myers (17) celebrates hitting a solo home run with Elly De La Cruz (44) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)