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Pirates-Marlins Preview

Sep 30, 2010 - 2:18 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (56-101) at Florida (77-80), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Florida Marlins must sweep a four-game series from the Pittsburgh Pirates to avoid their first losing season in three years. Sending Chris Volstad to the mound could help them get off to a good start.

Volstad looks to continue his recent success by winning a third straight start and help the Marlins avoid a fifth consecutive loss Thursday night against the Pirates.

Florida (77-81) lost 5-1 at Atlanta on Wednesday to go 1-6 on its final road trip. Losers in 12 of 16, the Marlins have not won four straight since winning a season-high five in a row Aug. 17-21. They began that stretch by winning three straight at Pittsburgh.

Volstad (11-9, 4.63 ERA) is 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his last seven starts. After giving up 16 runs in 14 2-3 innings over his previous three starts, he has not allowed a run in 15 2-3 innings of the last two since serving a six-game suspension for his part in a bench-clearing brawl with Washington on Sept. 1.

After tossing a five-hitter in a 4-0 win over St. Louis on Sept. 20, the right-hander went 6 2-3 innings in a 4-0 win at Milwaukee on Saturday.

"I really wanted to finish strong," Volstad said. "It's something I can keep building on, especially going into the offseason and for next season."

He can finish his season by recording his first win against the Pirates. Volstad, 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA against the Pirates, allowed five runs in five innings of a 7-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Aug. 16.

Florida has won five of seven at home over the Pirates (56-102), who are a major league- worst 16-61 on the road. However, the Marlins must find a way to score some runs after totaling 14 in their last seven contests.

The Marlins have had little problem getting the best of scheduled starter Zach Duke (8-14, 5.63), who is 0-4 with a 6.16 ERA in six starts versus Florida.

Duke allowed five runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-0 loss to Florida on Aug. 17. He has allowed three runs in each of his last two starts, the latest coming in six innings of a 6-4 win over Houston on Saturday.

"I feel pretty good on the mound right now, back where I want to be," the left-hander told the Pirates' official website. "I can go into my last start and give us a chance to win."

Dan Uggla is 6 for 12 against Duke, and 7 for 14 with a homer versus Pittsburgh this season. The Florida second baseman, however, is 3 for 14 in his last four games overall.

Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen has reached base safely in 24 straight games after going 2 for 3 in a 4-1 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday. He is 11 for 21 with 10 runs scored in his last six games.

The Pirates' first 100-loss season since 2001 has guaranteed them the No. 1 pick in the June draft.