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Nolasco helps Marlins blank Pirates

Apr 21, 2011 - 3:56 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Chris Coghlan went 2-for-5 with three runs batted in and Ricky Nolasco tossed seven scoreless innings, as the Florida Marlins dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-0, in the second test of a three-game set.

Emilio Bonifacio went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Marlins, who also won 6-0 in the series opener on Tuesday. Hanley Ramirez also drove in a run.

Nolasco (2-0) gave up four hits to go with eight strikeouts for Florida, which has won five of six. Josh Johnson tossed seven innings of two-hit baseball on Tuesday for the Marlins.

"I was just trying to throw as many strikes as I could," Nolasco said.

Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (2-1) allowed six runs on 10 hits over five innings. The right-hander also stuck out six and walked three. He was trying to surpass his win total from last season (2-12).

The Marlins scored four times with two outs in the second inning. John Buck and Bonifacio hit consecutive singles before Nolasco walked to load the bases. Coghlan beat out a slow grounder to second, which allowed two runners to score. Omar Infante followed with a single to center fielder Jose Tabata, who failed to field the ball cleanly. Nolasco crossed the plate on the error. Ramirez then hit an RBI single to right for a 4-0 lead.

"It's hard anytime, especially when you walk the pitcher," Morton said. "I'm not saying he can't hit, but when you walk the pitcher and you feel like they're gaining momentum, then it gets hard."

Pittsburgh's best chance to score early on came in the third. Morton hit a one-out double to left and moved to third on Tabata's groundout. But Matt Diaz lined out to end the frame.

Florida tacked on two more runs in the home third. With runners on second and third and one out, Bonifacio hit an RBI single to left. Coghlan added a run- scoring single two batters later for a 6-0 margin.

Nolasco retired 10 straight batters before giving up a two-out double to Diaz in the sixth. Lyle Overbay grounded out to end the frame.

The Pirates then had a runner thrown out at the plate in the seventh. Pedro Alvarez worked a two-out walk and tried to score on Chris Snyder's double down the left field line. Some good defense led to Alvarez being thrown out at home.

Edward Mujica tossed two scoreless innings to secure the victory.

Game Notes

The Marlins won six of eight meetings with the Buccos a year ago...Florida outfielder Logan Morrison had an MRI on his injured left foot on Wednesday. The results won't be known until Thursday...Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (personal) missed the game...Pittsburgh is the only team in the league that has yet to hit a triple this season...Nolasco lowered his ERA from 4.05 to 3.00...Diaz had two of Pittsburgh's five hits...The Pirates went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.