Marlins, Twins played a shockingly fast game on Tuesday

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Marlins and Twins played a shockingly fast game on Tuesday

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Apr 5, 2023 10:02 AM ET

Everybody knew Major League Baseball's new pitch clock rules could dramatically shorten games this season, and through the first week of the season, it has.

But the Miami Marlins' 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night really took that to the extreme.

The two teams completed their nine-inning game in just one hour and 57 minutes for the shortest game of the season so far.

Through the first week of the season, the average time of games has dropped to around two-and-a-half hours, shaving roughly 30 minutes off of games from a year ago. But nobody had completed a game in under two hours until Tuesday.

Reigning National League Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara started for the Marlins and was masterful in a complete game shutout that saw him allow just three hits and strike out five on only 100 pitches. It was Greg Maddux-like precision with 68 of his pitches going for strikes.

CG SHUTOUT SANDY IS BACK!!

Sandy Alcantara. Complete game. 100 pitches. 0 runs. 1 hour and 57 minutes.

pic.twitter.com/s8hyZi6AUG
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) April 5, 2023

There were only 36 complete games in the major leagues during the entire 2022 season, and Alcantara had six of them.

He continued that level of dominance on Tuesday.

Sandy Alcantara's amazing night ends with complete game shutout against the Twins.

Since 2018, Sandy Alcantara now has 4 complete game shutouts, breaking a 6-way tie for the most in MLB over that span. pic.twitter.com/UNptJ2Wi5E
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 5, 2023

Miami's only run on Tuesday came when Avisail Garcia hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning.

Hit it high and watch it fly

Avisail Garcia smacks his first HR of the season, and the Marlins take a 1-0 lead!@Marlins | #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/ESY1tOhXL3
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) April 4, 2023

Game times are going to be a continuing storyline all season as the league adjusts to the new pitch clock rules, and it is going to be fascinating to watch how many games break the two-hour mark.

It is important to keep in mind that as game times get shorter, you are not getting less baseball. You are simply getting less dead time between pitches and innings.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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