BASEBALL: Sandy Alcantara sets Marlins' career K record in win over Rangers

Owen Caissie broke the game open with a three-run home run in the fifth inning, and Sandy Alcantara became the franchise’s all-time strikeout leader as the Miami Marlins defeated the visiting Texas Rangers 6-4 on Tuesday.

Miami, which owns a league-best 15-5 record in June, also got home runs from Heriberto Hernandez and Joe Mack in a power-filled performance at the plate.

Alcantara (8-4) reached the milestone in the seventh inning when he struck out Kyle Higashioka for his 1,002nd career strikeout with the Marlins. The record-breaking pitch came on a slider outside the strike zone, surpassing the previous franchise mark held by Ricky Nolasco, who pitched from 2006 to 2013. Alcantara finished the outing with four strikeouts, including the historic one, while allowing five hits, three walks, and one earned run over 6 2/3 innings.

Texas reliever Jose Corniell (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his season debut. He allowed seven hits, two walks, and five runs while striking out three across 3 1/3 innings.

The Rangers struck first in the second inning after Alejandro Osuna singled and Jarred Kelenic walked to open the frame. Higashioka then bunted for a single to load the bases when first baseman Connor Norby failed to cover the bag. Nicky Lopez drove in a run on a groundout before Alcantara ended the threat by throwing Kelenic out at the plate on Joc Pederson’s comebacker. Wyatt Langford followed with a flyout to end the inning.

Heriberto Hernandez answered quickly for Miami, launching a first-pitch 416-foot solo homer to center in the bottom half of the second to tie the game. Joe Mack then put Miami ahead in the fourth with a solo shot off a 3-0 fastball, giving the Marlins a 2-1 lead.

Miami broke the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs. Caissie delivered the decisive blow with a first-pitch changeup that he drove for a three-run homer to right field. Hernandez later doubled and scored on a single by Mack to extend the lead.

Texas added late offense against Miami’s bullpen, with Brandon Nimmo hitting a solo home run in the eighth and Joc Pederson adding another in the ninth. Nimmo also delivered an RBI triple in the final inning to pull the Rangers closer, but closer Pete Fairbanks ended the threat by inducing a warning-track flyout from Josh Jung to secure the win.

— Field Level Media / Reuters