‘I’m ready to fight too’
Tempers flare between Alcantara, Acuna in loss
There’s clearlynolove lost between the Marlins and Braves outfielder RonaldAcuna Jr.
Over the past three seasons, Acuna Jr. has been hit four times byMarlins pitchers — and nearly every instance has resulted in heated jawingbetween the two sides. That continued in Wednesday’s National League Divisional Series.
In the third inning of Atlanta’s 9-5 victory over Miami in Game 1, tempers flared after Sandy Alcantara plunked Acuna Jr. with a 98 mile per hour fastball in the back. Acuna, who opened the game with a lead-off homer against Alcantara, took a few steps toward the mound in clear frustration before being separated by the umpires and an assistant coach. Warnings were issued to both teams afterward.
The incident brought back memories of a prior alternation between the two sides in 2018. After Acuna led off the previous three games with home runs, Marlins pitcher Jose Urena drilled the Braves outfielder with a 97 mile perhour fastballonthe first pitch of the game. Benches cleared and Urena was later suspended six games as a result.
Following Wednesday’s game, Alcantara said there was no intent behind the latest incident withAcuna.
“I just tried to go inside against [Acuna] and I hit him,” Alcantara said. “I don’t know why they overthink it like every time we hit Acuna it’s on purpose. We go inside pitching inside to him. And we keep throwing inside to him no matter what.”
“If he’s getting ready to fight, I’m ready to fight too.”
Manager Don Mattingly insisted the Marlins didn’t hit Acuna intentionally, saying they were trying to pitch him tight inside.
“I know he didn’t hit him on purpose,” Mattingly said. “With Acuna, he’s a guy you can’t just lay the ball over the plate. I looked at it and it was a good ways in, but he’s trying to run a ball on the plate there. It got further in than what hewanted.”
Marte out for NLDS
TheMarlins will be without veteran outfielder Starling Marte for the National League Divisional Series against the Braves.
After suffering a non-displaced fracture of the metacarpal bone on his left fifth finger last week against the Chicago Cubs, Marte was left off Miami’s 28-man NLDS roster. Teams had until 10 a.m. on Tuesday to finalize their rosters for this round. TheMarlins had been hopefulMarte could potentially return for this series, but ultimately decided to keep him out.
Magneuris Sierra took Marte’s place in center field in Tuesday’s
Game 1.
One of the Marlins’ most reliable hitters, Marte suffered the injury in lastWednesday’s Game 1 victory over the Cubs after being plunked in the left hand. The 31-year-old veteran immediately exited the game and did not play in Game 2.
Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline, Marte hit .281/.340/.430 with 14 doubles, six home runs and 10 stolen bases during the regular season. In Miami’sGame1 win over the Cubs, he finished 2 for 4 with a double and run scored.