Pirates 5, Marlins 1: A.J. Burnett tossed 7 2/3 strong innings and host Pittsburgh scored four runs in the fourth without the benefit of a hit en route to its fourth consecutive victory.
Burnett (11-3) limited Miami to one run and eight hits in winning for the 10th time in 11 decisions. The former Marlin, who walked one and struck out three, improved to 7-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 10 starts at home.
The Pirates, who are a major league-best 31-14 at home, became the first team in nearly 14 years to score at least four runs in an inning without registering a hit. Oakland accomplished the feat at Seattle on Sept. 23, 1998.
Miami starter Carlos Zambrano (5-8) began the fourth by hitting both Rod Barajas and Clint Barmes with pitches. Barajas scored when Marlins catcher John Buck made an errant throw on Burnett's sacrifice and, after Alex Presley walked, Neil Walker lifted a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
Zambrano then walked All-Star Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones to force in another run before exiting. Chad Gaudin came on and issued a free pass to Casey McGehee, bringing home Presley with the fourth run of the inning.
Brad Lincoln struck out three over 1 1/3 innings for his first career save.
Zambrano surrendered five runs - four earned - on three hits and six walks over just 3 1/3 innings. The enigmatic right-hander, who struck out two, has yielded at least three earned runs in each of his last eight starts.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the first as Presley drew a leadoff walk and came around to score later in the inning on Jones' groundout. It took just five pitches for Miami to pull even as Justin Ruggiano deposited a 3-1 offering from Burnett into the first row of seats in right field for his seventh homer of the year.
Greg Dobbs and Omar Infante had two hits apiece for the Marlins, who have lost 12 of 16 on the road and four straight overall.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Miami 3B Hanley Ramirez was kept out of the starting lineup for the second straight game with a swollen and infected right hand. Ramirez, who entered Friday's loss in the ninth inning as a pinch runner, is unable to grip a ball or bat. ... The Pirates placed Juan Cruz on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled fellow RHP Evan Meek from Triple-A Indianapolis. Meek allowed nine runs over 10 2/3 innings in 10 relief appearances with Pittsburgh earlier this season.
Miami | Pittsburgh | |
Carlos Zambrano | Player | A.J. Burnett |
Loss | W/L | Win |
3.1 | IP | 7.2 |
2 | Strikeouts | 3 |
3 | Hits | 8 |
10.80 | ERA | 1.17 |
Miami | Pittsburgh | |
Greg Dobbs | Player | Jordy Mercer |
2 | Hits | 1 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 3 |
.500 | Avg | 1.000 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Miami | 9 | 1 | 14 | .265 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Pittsburgh | 5 | 0 | 8 | .192 | 23 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |