Pirates 4, Marlins 3
PITTSBURGH -- The smallest man on the field had the biggest hit of the night for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Josh Harrison led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a pinch-hit home run, rallying the Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Marlins on Tuesday at PNC Park.
It was the second home run of the season and first career pinch-hit homer for the 5-foot-7 Harrison, who was batting for Garrett Jones. Harrison sent a 1-1 pitch from Mike Dunn (2-3) over the wall in right-center.
Neil Walker had three hits for the Pirates, and Andrew McCutchen had two hits and two RBIs.
Bryan Morris (5-4) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win as the National League Central-leading Pirates improved to 7-2 on their season-long 11-gmae homestand.
The Marlins' Donovan Solano had three hits, and Ed Lucas and Logan Morrison added two hits apiece.
Neither starter figured in the decision.
Miami's Henderson Alvarez went seven innings and allowed three runs and six hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Jeff Locke lasted 5 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh, giving up three runs and nine hits while walking three and striking out four.
Both teams left the bases loaded in the late innings with the scored tied 3-3.
The Marlins' Jeff Mathis flied out to left field to end the seventh.
In the eighth, the Pirates loaded the bases against Chad Qualls with none out. Dunn relieved and struck out Pedro Alvarez looking before Russell Martin grounded into a double play with shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria making a nice the play on a bad short hop.
The Pirates tied the game at 3-3 with a three-run third inning. McCutchen hit a two-run double off the center field fence with two outs, and Alvarez followed with a triple to right-center.
The Marlins built a 3-0 lead Henderson Alvarez's sacrifice fly in the second inning and four consecutive singles to lead off the third by Lucas, Giancarlo Stanton, Morrison and Solano, with the last two driving in runs.
NOTES: The series continues Wednesday night with Miami RHP Tom Koehler (3-6, 4.34) pitching against Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton (3-3, 4.07). ... Pirates OF Travis Snider, who has been on the disabled list since July 28 with left big toe discomfort, began playing catch Tuesday and hopes to start running by the end of the week. ... Before Tuesday night's game, Miami RHP Jose Fernandez downplayed winning the National League Rookie of the Month award for July on Monday. "It's a great honor but, as a pitcher, you only win games with the help of your teammates," he said. "You need run support, and you need the guys to play good defense behind you."
