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McCutchen, Mercer help Pirates down Marlins

Jun 15, 2014 - 1:25 AM Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Andrew McCutchen smacked a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Miami Marlins, 8-6, in the middle test of a three-game set.

Jordy Mercer belted a solo shot and an RBI double to go with two runs scored for the Pirates, who have won five of their last six games. Charlie Morton (4-7) struck out six and surrendered two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings to notch the win.

Jason Grilli recorded the final out in the ninth to notch his 11th save after Stolmy Pimentel allowed four runs in the frame. This was after Pittsburgh's bullpen imploded on Friday night, giving up four runs on six walks and just one hit to allow Miami to tie the game.

Marcell Ozuna and Jeff Baker each hit a two-run homers, while Randy Wolf (1-3) allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks for Miami, which has dropped three straight.

"It's really frsutrating to physically feel good and just not execute out there," said Wolf. "It's embarrassing to go out there and not have the command that you should."

The Pirates raced out to a 5-0 lead after plating a pair in the second and adding three more in the fourth.

Mercer led off the second by launching a homer over the wall in left-center. Pedro Alvarez, Chris Stewart and Morton all singled to load the bases, Gregory Polanco's groundout brought home Alvarez. Starling Marte, though, grounded into a double play to end the threat.

"Good pitching and good offense," said McCutchen. "Getting on the board first definitely helps us."

Stewart singled to begin the fourth and moved to second on Morton's sacrifice bunt. Polanco coaxed a walk and following Marte's strikeout, McCutchen cracked a 2-1 hanging curveball for his no-doubt, three-run blast into left-center to put Pittsburgh well in front.

Miami got two runs back in the home fourth, but the Pirates tacked on three more in the fifth.

Garrett Jones worked a one-out walk in the fourth and scored on Ozuna's triple. Ozuna crossed the plate on J.T. Realmuto's RBI groundout.

Mercer laced an RBI double to right and later scored on Morton's squeeze bunt in the fifth. Polanco's run-scoring single increased the Pittsburgh margin to 8-2.

Ozuna and Baker's two-run blasts came in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

The Pirates were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while Miami finished 1-for-5 with RISP ... McCutchen's homer was his 11th of the season, while Ozuna's blast was his 12th.