Pirates Knocked Around by Marlins, Drop 7th Straight Series

Things are going from bad to worse for the Pirates, who lost their seventh straight series after being defeated 8-2 by the Marlins at loanDepot Park on Wednesday night.

Top 2nd, 1-0 PIT: It looked like Jacob Gonzalez bounced into an inning-ending double play with two on base, but shortstop Otto Lopez delivered an errant throw to first base. Nick Gonzales came around to score from second. Gonzales became the first runner the Pirates (58-64) had in scoring position since the first inning on Sunday.

Bottom 2nd, 1-1: With the bases loaded and two outs, Xavier Edwards hit a grounder to first baseman Spencer Horwitz. Carmen Mlodzinski (6-5) was late getting over from the mound, however, and Edwards reached on an RBI infield single.

Bottom 3rd, 5-1 MIA: Mlodzinski was lifted after a Agustín Ramírez RBI double set the Marlins (62-59) up with runners on second and third. Evan Sisk followed and issued a walk to pinch-hitter Javier Sanoja to load the bases. Sisk then hit Leo Jiménez with a pitch, walked Joe Mack and allowed an Edwards sacrificfe fly.

Top 4th, 5-2 MIA: Gonzales opened the inning with a double off starter Janson Junk (6-7) and advanced to third. He scored on a sacrifice fly to right-center from Esmerlyn Valdez, who was robbed of a potential home run by center fielder Jakob Marsee.

Bottom 4th, 6-2 MIA: Griffin Conine got the run back with a leadoff home run off ex-teammate Lake Bachar.

Bottom 6th, 8-2 MIA: Heriberto Hernández hit a two-run home run to left-center to extend the lead.

The Marlins’ big third inning capped off a stretch of five unanswered runs. With Pittsburgh’s offense struggling this month, it put the game far out of reach.

Griffin Conine homered and reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances. He homered, doubled, drew three walks and scored three runs.

The Pirates have now lost seven straight series. Their last series win came when they took two of three games from the Guardians in Cleveland from July 18-19. It was the first series after the All-Star break.

• Carmen Mlodzinski: 2.1 innings, five hits, four runs, three walks, one strikeout, 59 pitches/34 strikes
• Lake Bachar: 3.0 innings, three hits, three runs, one walk, two strikeouts, 46 pitches/27 strikes
• Nick Gonzales: 2 for 3, one double, one walk
• Ronny Simon:

• Carmen Mlodzinski now has a 5.48 ERA in 11 starts. He has a 2.15 ERA in 16 relief appearances.
• Evan Sisk has allowed 15/25 inherited runners to score this season.
• Ronny Simon extended his hit streak to five games.

RHP Braxton Ashcraft (11-5, 4.08 ERA) gets the finale for the Pirates on Thursday afternoon. The Marlins will send out RHP Tyler Phillips (3-5, 3.47 ERA). First pitch: 1:10 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB Network/100.1 FM & AM 1020.

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