Former FIU standout Logan Allen dominates in MLB debut for Guardians to beat Marlins

Former FIU standout Logan Allen had an MLB debut to remember — and stopped the Miami Marlins from getting their first sweep of the 2023 season in the process.

The 24-year-old left-handed pitcher held the Marlins to just one run over six strong innings of work on Sunday to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-4 win at Progressive Field. Miami (12-10) won both games of a doubleheader against Cleveland (11-11) on Saturday by scores of 6-1 and 3-2.

The only run Allen allowed came on a Jon Berti home run in the third inning.

Other than that, he dominated Miami’s lineup, holding them to just five hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Allen, ranked as Cleveland’s No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, became just the third pitcher in Guardians history to throw at least six innings, strike out at least eight and allow no more than one run in his MLB debut. The others were Triston McKenzie on Aug. 22, 2020, and Luis Tiant on July 19, 1964.

Of Allen’s 86 pitches, 60 were strikes — including 17 swings and misses he induced from Marlins hitters. He primarily threw a four-seam fastball that averaged 92 mph and topped at 93.7 mph and a low 80s splitter.

“His splitter was really good. He threw the fastball at the top of the zone. He came out throwing strikes. He worked quick. Really impressive debut for the young guy.”

Allen, who Cleveland selected with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, was the third-highest drafted player in FIU history, behind only right-handed pitcher Josh Banks (No. 50 by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003) and catcher Aramis Garcia (No. 52 by the San Francisco Giants in 2014).

He got a lead for good in the third inning when when Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and Josh Bell hit back-to-back home runs against Miami’s Jesus Luzardo to put the Guardians up 3-1. Luzardo threw 35 pitches in that third inning, with Cleveland logging five consecutive two-out hits against him to run his pitch count up to 74 after just three innings.

“I’ve got to do a better job of containing it and limiting it,” Luzardo said. “It didn’t go my way today.”

Cleveland added a fourth run against Luzardo in the fifth inning on a Bell RBI double that scored Amed Rosario before Cleveland scored three runs against reliever George Soriano over the seventh and eighth innings.

Luzardo pitched fewer than five innings for a second consecutive start.

Avisail Garcia added a three-run home run against James Karinchak in the eighth to cut Miami’s deficit to 6-4 but Miami got no closer.

Even with the loss on Sunday, Miami won its fourth consecutive series by taking two of three in Cleveland. The team also took two of three against the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants leading into the series with the Guardians.

“We just have to keep continuing to play good baseball,” Garcia said.

Another big series looms as Miami completes its road trip with a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves starting Monday at 7:20 p.m.

Sandy Alcantara update

Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who did not start Saturday while dealing with mild right biceps tendinitis, played catch pregame Sunday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Monday in anticipation of starting against the Braves on Wednesday.

As for the rest of the pitching plans for the Braves series, Miami has Edward Cabrera scheduled to pitch Monday and Braxton Garrett on Thursday, with a to-be-announced starter for the Tuesday game. Atlanta’s projected starting pitchers, in order: Spencer Strider on Monday, Charlie Morton on Tuesday, Bryce Elder on Wednesday and Kyle Wright on Thursday.

The Braves (14-8) were just swept by the Houston Astros and have lost four consecutive games.

This and that

▪ Miami is 12-0 this season when holding opponents to four runs or fewer and 0-10 when allowing more than five runs.

▪ Bryan De La Cruz’s nine-game hitting streak, which tied a career-long set last season, came to an end after he went 0 for 3 on Sunday, but he drew a walk in the eighth to extend his on-base streak to 11 games.

▪ Jorge Soler has his second three-hit game of the season, hitting a double in the first inning and singles in the fourth and eighth innings. He also drew a walk in the sixth.

Soler’s eight doubles are tied for seventh in MLB. His .592 slugging mark is 11th and his .950 on-base-plus-slugging mark is 20th.

▪ Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole his team-best seventh base on Sunday, moving him into a tie for sixth in MLB. Overall, the Marlins have 20 stolen bases while being caught just three times.

▪ Sunday was the first time this season Miami lost when scoring first. The Marlins are now 8-1 in those situations.