Caissie, Alcantara lead Marlins to opening day win over Rockies

Rookie DH Owen Caissie delivered a key RBI double in his first MLB at-bat, while Sandy Alcantara pitched seven strong innings.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Miami Marlins defeated the Colorado Rockies 2-1 on opening day, with rookie designated hitter Owen Caissie contributing an RBI double in his first MLB at-bat and ace Sandy Alcantara pitching seven solid innings to earn the win.

Why it matters

The Marlins' opening day victory marks the first time they have won on opening day in consecutive seasons since 2004-05, a positive sign for a team looking to build on last year's success and compete in the NL East.

The details

Caissie, who was a last-minute addition to the starting lineup after first baseman Christopher Morel was scratched, delivered a key RBI double in the second inning to give the Marlins a lead they would not relinquish. Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on four hits. The Marlins' bullpen of Andrew Nardi, Anthony Bender and Pete Fairbanks combined for two scoreless innings to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Caissie's RBI double came in the bottom of the second inning.

The players

Owen Caissie

A rookie designated hitter for the Miami Marlins who contributed an RBI double in his first MLB at-bat.

Sandy Alcantara

The ace pitcher for the Miami Marlins who earned the win by pitching seven strong innings, allowing just one unearned run.

Christopher Morel

The Marlins' first baseman who was scratched from the lineup shortly before the game due to an oblique strain.

Javier Sanoja

The Marlins' third baseman who drove in the team's second run with an RBI single.

Kyle Freeland

The starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, who took the loss after allowing two runs over 4 1/3 innings.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think it happened two or three hours before the game, so it wasn't that bad. I did my scouting report last night, so I was already ready, I guess.”

— Owen Caissie, Marlins Designated Hitter

“Everything was working today. The sinker was good. The changeup. I threw a lot of sweepers today. You guys see the results.”

— Sandy Alcantara, Marlins Pitcher

“I swung at one in the dirt right before that. I just wanted to see [a pitch] up [in the strike zone].”

— Owen Caissie, Marlins Designated Hitter

What’s next

The Marlins (1-0) and Rockies (0-1) will face off again on Saturday, March 28th at 4:10 PM EDT in the second game of their series.

The takeaway

The Marlins' opening day victory, fueled by a strong performance from their young designated hitter Caissie and ace pitcher Alcantara, sets the tone for what the team hopes will be a successful 2026 season as they look to build on last year's progress and compete in the NL East.