Florida @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2010 ) Florida 1, Pittsburgh 7
The Pittsburgh Pirates halted one streak on Monday and will look to extend another on Tuesday.
After snapping a seven-game losing skid with a 7-1 triumph over Florida, the Pirates (40-78) will look to push their new winning streak to two games against the Marlins (57-60) at PNC Park.
Garrett Jones and rookie Pedro Alvarez combined to drive in six runs and right-hander James McDonald tossed seven strong innings as Pittsburgh cruised to victory. Jones belted a two-run double and added a sacrifice fly while Alvarez had a pair of run-scoring singles.
Andrew McCutchen belted a solo home run and joined rookie Jose Tabata and Neil Walker by scoring twice for the Pirates.
Pittsburgh will turn to left-hander Zack Duke (5-11, 5.20 ERA), who will be trying to snap a modest two-game losing streak of his own - not to mention a tough stretch in five career starts against Florida. The 27-year-old Texan is 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA against the Marlins.
Duke permitted three runs and six hits in six innings against the San Diego Padres last Thursday.
Florida will counter with right-hander Ricky Nolasco (13-8, 4.39 ERA), who has won eight of his last 10 starts.
The 27-year-old California native tossed six scoreless innings and stuck out eight in the Marlins' 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Nolasco boasts a 2-3 career record against the Pirates, but has a trim 2.45 ERA in those contests.
The numbers sound promising, but Florida has little to smile about - well, aside from the weather. The Marlins have scored just seven runs en route to losing four in a row.
Taken a step further, Florida went 0-for-27 with runners in scoring position during its three-game series sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds. On Tuesday, the Marlins extended their woes by failing on six more chances to plate a runner in scoring position.
The only run Florida scored on Monday came courtesy of Dan Uggla's groundout in the fourth inning. As a result, the fourth-place Marlins fell 11.5 games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.
On Monday, Florida signed first-round draft pick Christian Yelich to a contract. The 23rd overall section in the June Amateur Draft, Yelich signed for $1.7 million.
The Marlins were not alone in getting deals done.
The Pirates signed Houston high school right-hander Jameson Taillon to a minor league contract. The second overall pick of the draft, Taillon reeled in a $6.5 million bonus to boot.
Fellow hurler Stetson Allie, who was taken in the second round, also agreed to a contract.