“It was good news,” Mattingly said. “I didn't really feel like anything was wrong there. I didn't feel like taking any chances right there. If he catches another foul ball there, you never know what happens. I was glad to hear that news afterwards, for sure.”\n\nMiami is thin at catching depth, and the team didn’t take any chances with Alfaro’s well-being after he was dazed on Christian Vázquez’s foul ball in the seventh inning. Alfaro was wobbly after taking the brunt of the ball on the helmet, though he stayed in the game for two more batters.\n\n“Let's just get past the baseball, and get into the straight health,” Mattingly said. “You want to make sure he's good, and not let him catch another foul ball. That's probably the biggest danger there, that he catches another one.”
Alfaro played a big part in the Marlins bouncing back from Tuesday’s 2-0 loss, with his third career multihomer game and first since Sept. 23, 2019, at the Mets.\n\nWith the win, the Marlins (25-22) gained a full game on the Braves, who lost to the Orioles. Miami is now 2 1/2 games back in the National League East. The Marlins also are 1 1/2 games in front of the Phillies for second place in the division. The top two teams from each division earn a playoff spot this season, along with two Wild Cards in each league.\n\nThe Marlins already are shorthanded behind the plate with
At the plate, Alfaro had a huge game, crushing a two-run homer off Mike Kickham in the second inning. And in the fifth inning, he went deep again, with another two-run shot, off Robinson Leyer.\n\nStatcast projected the first homer at 423 feet and 109.7 mph.\n\n“The homers today, obviously, both of them, give you a little cushion,” Mattingly said. “These guys \\[Boston\\] kept coming today. Then he gives you another two-run homer and gives you more cushion.”\n\n
Miami’s offense broke through with four runs in the third.