The Boston Red Sox handed the Miami Marlins a 4-2 defeat at loanDepot Park on Monday, August 24, 2026, completing a comeback after trailing by one run. Sandy Alcantara gave Miami every reason to win, working seven solid innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts. But the Marlins bullpen surrendered three runs in the final two innings, and Boston closer Aroldis Chapman slammed the door in the ninth to secure the victory for the Red Sox.

Sandy Alcantara Delivers, Bullpen Does Not

Alcantara was the story through seven innings. The right-hander scattered six hits, walked two, and struck out six while posting a 1.00 ERA on the night. He handed a one-run lead to the bullpen and had done everything asked of him. That lead did not last.

Josh Ekness came on for the eighth inning and allowed one earned run on one hit in one inning of work. Then things unraveled quickly. Pete Fairbanks could not record an out, issuing a walk and surrendering one earned run before being replaced. Tyler Zuber entered and gave up two more earned runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Cade Gibson finished the eighth, throwing two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run, but the damage was done. Boston had turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.

Pete Fairbanks was charged with the loss.

Offense Could Not Back a Strong Start

Miami's offense managed two runs on the night but never found a knockout blow. Otto Lopez was the most productive Marlins bat, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Heriberto Hernández also went 2-for-4 but was unable to drive in a run. The Marlins put contact on the ball but could not string together the kind of innings needed to build a cushion that would have protected Alcantara's lead.

For Boston, Jarren Duran went 2-for-4 and Mickey Gasper was efficient, going 2-for-2 with one RBI. Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez labored through five innings — four walks, four hits, four strikeouts — but allowed just one earned run. Brayan Bello followed with two solid innings, surrendering one earned run, before Erik Miller closed out the seventh with a scoreless frame. Miller, who allowed two hits but no runs, earned the win. Aroldis Chapman worked a clean ninth — one hit, one strikeout, no runs — to pick up the save.

Turning Point: The Eighth-Inning Collapse

Miami entered the eighth leading 2-1 with three outs standing between the Marlins and a win. What followed was a three-pitcher, three-run implosion that defined the game. Fairbanks and Zuber combined to allow three earned runs without recording more than one out between them. A bullpen that needed to protect a one-run lead instead handed Boston a two-run advantage that the Red Sox would not relinquish.

Key Performances

  • Sandy Alcantara (SP, MIA): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Otto Lopez (MIA): 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Heriberto Hernández (MIA): 2-for-4
  • Pete Fairbanks (MIA): 0.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB — took the loss
  • Tyler Zuber (MIA): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER
  • Erik Miller (BOS): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER — earned the win
  • Aroldis Chapman (BOS): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K — save
  • Mickey Gasper (BOS): 2-for-2, 1 RBI

What's Next

The Marlins remain at loanDepot Park and will look to regroup for the next game in this series against Boston. Miami will need its bullpen to answer after Monday's three-run collapse negated what was one of Alcantara's better outings of the 2026 regular season.