Marlins accept gifts, knock off Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- In a somewhat sloppy ballgame, the Miami Marlins held it together to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-2 win Sunday at PNC Park.
Christian Yelich hit a solo home run to get the Marlins on the board in the first inning and Miami took advantage of poor defense by Pittsburgh to add two more runs in the fifth.
Marlins right-hander Jose Urena (2-4, 6.33) allowed two earned runs on four hits through six innings for his first win since allowing one earned run in three innings of a relief appearance against the Washington Nationals on May 14. In his previous two starts, Urena had allowed a combined 13 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings pitched.
Right-handed closer Fernando Rodney earned his seventh save with Miami and 24th overall this season.
The Marlins (65-59) responded to losing three straight games against the Cincinnati Reds last week by taking all three against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates (62-59) lost a good bit of momentum coming off winning six of their previous seven games entering the series.
Following the two-out solo home run from Yelich in the top of the first, the Marlins struggled to get to Pirates right-hander Ryan Vogelsong over the ensuing three innings and saw their 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 deficit. Poor execution by Pittsburgh didn't allow that to last.
The inning began with shortstop Sean Rodriguez’s throw pulling Josh Bell off first base, allowing Adeiny Hechavarria to reach safely on an error. Following a successful sacrifice bunt from Urena, Dee Gordon laid down a bunt of his own and reached first without a throw.
Gordon stole second and Martin Prado grounded out to advance him to third and score Hechavarria, tying the game at 2-2.
Vogelsong, who had not allowed a hit in his previous three innings, walked Yelich before tossing a wild pitch through catcher Eric Fryer, allowing Gordon to trot home from third and giving Miami a 3-2 lead after five innings.
Since returning from an eye injury on Aug. 4, Vogelsong (2-3, 2.98) had been impressive in his past three starts and that was the case again Sunday, despite the loss. He allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings pitched.
The Marlins gave the Pirates life with their own defensive miscues in the fourth.
The bottom of the fourth began with a single to left field from Andrew McCutchen, his second single in as many at-bats. Gregory Polanco followed it up with a double off the right-field wall that he thought would sail into the stands, as he lifted his hand and trotted around first base before sprinting to second.
McCutchen strolled home on an error when David Freese sent a dribbler through Prado at third, which moved Polanco up a base from second.
Bell drove in Polanco with a sacrifice fly to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. Bell, who went 1 for 3 with one RBI, started at first base for the first time in his major league career after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
NOTES: Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria replaced Miguel Rojas in the field and took his spot in the order, batting eighth in front of pitcher Jose Urena. ... The rest of the Marlins' lineup looked the same as it did in Miami's 3-1 win against Pittsburgh on Saturday. ... Marlins 1B Xavier Scruggs was left at seventh in the order one day after belting his first major league home run. ... Josh Bell started at first base for the first time in his major league career one day after Pittsburgh recalled him from Triple-A Indianapolis. Bell replaced John Jaso at first and hit sixth, behind third baseman David Freese. ... Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after sustaining a left shoulder injury in Pittsburgh's 6-5 loss to Miami the previous day. Kang is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks. ... Pirates C Eric Fryer took Francisco Cervelli's place behind the plate and Sean Rodriguez played shortstop in place of Jordy Mercer.