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Pirates send Morton to hill in Miami

Jun 14, 2014 - 1:19 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Charlie Morton tries to win his third consecutive start when the right-hander leads the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Miami Marlins in the middle installment of a three-game series Saturday.

Morton was a 6-2 winner over the Cubs at PNC Park Monday when he allowed six hits and one run over seven innings. He's gone 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 16 strikeouts in his last two starts. Morton is 4-3 with a 4.70 ERA in eight career starts versus the Marlins.

Lefty Randy Wolf, who has had plenty of success against the Pirates, toes the rubber for the Marlins. Wolf is 9-4 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 career games when facing Pittsburgh. He's coming off a 5-2 loss at Wrigley Field a week ago when he gave up nine hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Last night, Gregory Polanco hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 13th inning to cap his five-hit night as the Pirates defeated the Marlins, 8-6, in the opener of a three-game set.

The Pirates held a 6-2 lead entering the ninth, but their usually-reliable bullpen fell apart as Miami pushed across four runs to tie the score despite recording just one hit. Pittsburgh used three relievers, who combined to walk six in the frame.

Clint Barmes led off the 13th with a single off Mike Dunn (5-4) and after Jeanmar Gomez moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt, Polanco launched his first career blast into the seats in right-center.

Gomez (1-2) held the Marlins scoreless over the final four innings to earn the win.

Polanco also scored three runs, while Starling Marte cracked a two-run shot among his four hits and three runs scored for the Pirates, who have won four of their last five games.

Giancarlo Stanton belted a solo shot for Miami, which has dropped four of its last six on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

The Pirates have won eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings against Miami.