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Mitre takes mound as Marlins look for rare home win

Jun 27, 2007 - 3:16 PM Pittsburgh (32-44) at Florida (36-41) 7:05 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Florida Marlins have been horrible at home recently. The Pittsburgh Pirates have been equally bad on the road.

Something has to give when the teams face off in the middle game of a three-game series on Wednesday.

The Marlins, who have lost three games in a row and 10 of their last 13 at home, will send Sergio Mitre (2-3, 2.34 ERA) to the mound.

Mitre has pitched well recently, allowing two runs or less in four of his last five starts. However, the righthander is just 0-1 during that span.

In his last start, Mitre allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, but did not figure in a 5-4 win at the Chicago White Sox last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Pirates have lost eight of their last 10 road games despite posting a 3-2 victory in Tuesday's opener. Paul Maholm threw seven strong innings and Jack Wilson homered as Pittsburgh snapped a five-game losing streak.

Rookie John Van Benschoten (0-2, 4.22) will take the hill for the Pirates looking for his first win in his third start of the season.

The 27-year-old Van Benschoten allowed three runs and six hits in five innings of a 3-0 loss at the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.