Pirates sweep Marlins on Martin's walk-off single

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Russell Martin's pinch-hit single with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Miami Marlins 5-4 Thursday for their fifth straight win.

Martin delivered his fourth game-ending hit at PNC Park this year for the NL Central leaders.

The Pirates swept the three-game series and improved to 70-44, the best record in the majors. Miami lost a 4-0 lead and fell for the fifth time in a row.

Josh Harrison opened the 10th with a single off Steve Ames (0-1) and took second on Clint Barmes' sacrifice bunt. After Jose Tabata bounced out and Starling Marte was intentionally walked, Martin batted for Jared Hughes (2-2) and grounded a single down the left-field line.

Neil Walker had three hits and two RBIs for Pittsburgh and Marte had two hits. Pirates star Andrew McCutchen was scratched from the starting lineup because of discomfort in his right shoulder, but singled as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

Marlins rookie Christian Yelich had three hits, including his first major league homer.

Starters Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole each lasted only five innings, and neither touted rookie was sharp.

Fernandez gave up two runs and five hits for Miami while walking four and striking out five. He had a combined 27 strikeouts in his previous two starts.

Cole allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He is winless in seven starts since winning the first four starts of his career.

The Pirates tied the score at 4 in the seventh on sacrifice flies by Walker and pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez. They had drawn within 4-2 in the fifth on consecutive RBI singles by Walker and Pedro Alvarez.

Miami built a 4-0 lead by scoring twice in the first and fifth innings. Giancarlo Stanton drove in the game's first run with a double and scored on Placido Polanco's single, then Yelich hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

NOTES: Pittsburgh leads the major leagues with 41 home wins and Miami's 17 are the fewest. ... Miami 2B Donovan Solano was not in the lineup for the first time since July 23 and rookie CF Jake Marisnick was also rested. ... Both teams open three-game road series on Friday night with Miami visiting Atlanta and Pittsburgh playing at Colorado. RHP Justin Turner (3-3, 2.68) will start for the Marlins against RHP Brandon Beachy (0-0, 9.00). Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (12-4, 2.04) will face LHP Jorge De La Rosa (10-6, 3.31).

WPXI