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Rolling Marlins hope to extend winning streak vs. Pirates

Apr 20, 2009 - 2:45 AM By Anthony Giornalista Stats Senior Writer

Florida (11-1) at Pittsburgh (6-6), 7:05 p.m. EST

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had an outstanding stretch on the mound before a poor finish to a weekend series. Their pitchers certainly won't get a break against the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins, who boast the majors' best record thanks partly to their outstanding production at the plate, look to push their winning streak to eight in the opener of a three-game set with the Pirates on Monday night.

Pittsburgh (6-6) had posted two straight shutouts and three in five contests before losing 11-1 to Atlanta on Sunday. Now, the Pirates will try to slow down a Marlins lineup that is averaging 6.41 runs.

Florida (11-1) has scored 16 runs over its last two games, including a 7-4 victory over Washington on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.

Cody Ross was the hitting star for the Marlins in that contest, tying the game with a homer in the eighth and connecting for a three-run double in the ninth en route to finishing with five RBIs.

Florida is now 6-0 on the road following its fourth comeback victory.

"When we're down, nobody panics," Ross said. "We have a feeling we're going to win. It's just a matter of time. That's the way we've approached it the last week or so and it's kind of paid off for us."

Ross went 3-for-4 to raise his average from .205 to .256. Ross has 11 RBIs after finishing with a career-high 73 last season.

In 11 games versus Pittsburgh, Ross is hitting .345 (10-for-29) with three home runs, three doubles and 12 RBIs.

The Marlins went 3-2 against the Pirates last season even though their starting pitchers posted a 4.88 ERA.

Andrew Miller (0-0, 6.43 ERA), who has never faced Pittsburgh, will take the mound for Florida in this series' opener. This will be the 23-year-old left-hander's second straight start after two relief appearances.

In his last outing, Miller gave up four runs and four hits in 4 2-3 innings as Florida beat Atlanta 10-4 on Wednesday night.

Pittsburgh will counter with Ross Ohlendorf (0-2, 4.91), who is 0-5 with a 5.88 ERA in seven career starts. The right-hander allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings as Pittsburgh lost 4-1 to Houston on Wednesday night.

Ohlendorf has never faced the Marlins.

He'll try to get the Pirates back on track after their 21-inning scoreless streak ended in the first inning Sunday. Pittsburgh limited Atlanta to only 10 hits combined while winning the first two games of the series, 3-0 on Friday night and 10-0 on Saturday.

"We had a good series," manager John Russell told the Pirates' official Web site. "It would have been nice to sweep."

Pirates pitchers have a 3.34 ERA on the season, but haven't been getting much run support. Pittsburgh has scored three runs or fewer in five of its last six games.

First baseman Adam LaRoche is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts in his last three games after going 7-for-12 with two home runs, three doubles and four RBIs in his previous three.

LaRoche went hitless in 14 at-bats versus the Marlins last season.