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Pirates hope to end five-game slide

Apr 21, 2008 - 1:16 PM Florida (11-7) at Pittsburgh (7-11) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - After getting pounded on a six-game road trip, the Pittsburgh Pirates look to change their fortunes when they open up a homestand against the Florida Marlins on Monday.

The Pirates lost the final five games of their trip, getting outscored 48-12 over that span.

The Chicago Cubs completed a three-game sweep with a 13-6 victory over the Pirates, who will play their next seven games at PNC Park.

Ryan Doumit hit two home runs and Nate McLouth extended his hitting streak to 18 games in the loss. McLouth has a hit in every game this season and is batting .382 overall.

Pittsburgh will turn to veteran righthander Matt Morris (0-2, 7.20 ERA) to try and turn things around.

Morris has not fared well so far this season and is coming off a poor outing in which allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old surrendered seven hits with one walk and one strikeout in an 11-2 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Hanley Ramirez hit his fourth and fifth home runs of the season Sunday, leading the Marlins to their second straight win, a 6-1 triumph over Washington.

Mark Hendrickson (3-1, 3.97) goes for his fourth straight win when he takes the hill for Florida. The lefthander allowed three runs - two earned - in 5 1/3 innings as Florida held on for a 6-5 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday.

Hendrickson is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in three career starts against Pittsburgh.