Marlins top Pirates again
MIAMI -- Adeiny Hechavarria hit a go-ahead double and Adam Conley pitched 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, leading the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Marlins Park.
Derek Dietrich started the winning rally when he was hit by a pitch from reliever Tony Watson. Dietrich, who injured his left forearm on the play, was replaced by pinch-runner Miguel Rojas. Hechavarria then belted a 3-2 pitch that one-hopped the wall in left field, scoring Rojas.
Hechavarria fouled off four pitches before he came through.
A.J. Ramos pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his 17th save in 17 chances.
The Marlins (28-25) have won two of the first three games in the series against the Pirates (29-23), will be looking to complete the sweep Thursday.
Conley, tied his career high with nine strikeouts and pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks. But he got a no-decision after his bullpen let him down in the seventh.
The Pirates tied the score 2-2 in the seventh. With one out in the inning, they loaded the bases off reliever Kyle Barroclough. Miami then brought in lefty reliever Mike Dunn for his first appearance of the season, fresh off the disabled list. Pirates pinch-hitter Matt Joyce, a lefty batter, won the battle, stroking a two-run single.
That hit meant Conley could no longer win the game. Still, it was the second time this year Conley flirted with a no-hitter. He held the Milwaukee Brewers hitless for 7 2/3 innings on April 29 but had to leave the game due to a high pitch count (116). His relievers could not finish the no-hitter, but Miami won 6-3.
Pirates starter Jon Niese also got a no-decision on Wednesday after allowing six hits, three walks and two runs in five innings. He struck out six and remains 5-0 in his past 10 starts against the Marlins.
Miami used a walk, a single and an error to load the bases with no outs in the second. But Niese escaped the jam without allowing a run, getting Hechavarria on a groundout and striking out Conley and J.T. Realmuto, both swinging.
The Marlins cashed in on their next big opportunity, in the fifth. Realmuto led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a Martin Prado single and scored on a groundout by Christian Yelich.
On the scoring play, the Pirates were playing their infield in, but, even so, first baseman John Jaso couldn't get the ball out of his glove quickly enough, and Realmuto barely beat the throw.
The Marlins added a second run in the inning when Niese bounced a wild pitch, allowing Prado to score from third.
Andrew McCutchen broke up Conley's no-hit bid with two outs in the sixth, lining a single to center. McCutchen advanced to third on David Freese's double to right, but Conley escaped the jam when he got Starling Marte on a broken-bat groundout.
NOTES: Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton (sore right side) returned after missing seven straight starts. ... Marlins RHP Bryan Morris had back surgery on Wednesday, and the best-case scenario has him returning in September. ... Miami recalled RHP Cody Hall from Triple-A New Orleans and sent RHP Jose Urena to the same team. ... With seven wins in seven straight starts, Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez is one short of Chris Hammond's franchise record, set in 1993. Fernandez was 6-0 with a 1.38 ERA in May. ... Miami's offense had 15 consecutive scoreless innings before scoring in Monday's seventh inning. ... Pittsburgh CF Andrew McCutchen has worn a T-shirt calling for MLB to retire the jersey No. 21 of ex-Pirates star Roberto Clemente. ... Pittsburgh's Sean Rodriguez, who started at shortstop on Monday, started his third game of the year in right field on Wednesday. He has played every position in the majors except pitcher and catcher.