Fill-in starter Jorge Sosa, 4 relievers pitch Marlins to 2-0 win over Pirates
By APSaturday, October 2, 2010
Sosa, 4 relievers lead Marlins over Pirates 2-0
MIAMI — Fill-in starter Jorge Sosa and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, pitching the Florida Marlins to a 2-0 victory over the road-weary Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
The Pirates dropped to 17-63 away from home and must win their season finale Sunday at Florida to avoid matching the 1963 New York Mets for the worst road record in a 162-game season.
Pittsburgh has the worst overall mark in the majors at 57-104 and is assured of the top pick in next year’s amateur draft.
Mike Stanton and Chad Tracy each drove in a run for the Marlins.
Sosa, typically a reliever, made his second start of the season in place of Alex Sanabia, who was scratched with a stiff right elbow. The right-hander allowed five hits and two walks in four innings.
Brian Sanches (2-2) worked two innings for the win, striking out three, and Clay Hensley pitched the ninth to earn his sixth save. Hensley struck out Ryan Doumit with runners on second and third to end it.
The Pirates got a solid outing from Charlie Morton (2-12), who allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked one, falling to 0-8 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 road starts.
In the fourth, Ozzie Martinez led off with a single and went to third on Logan Morrison’s double off the left-field wall. With the bases loaded and one out, Stanton chopped an infield single over Pedro Alvarez at third base to drive in a run. Tracy followed with a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0.
Meanwhile, Sosa, Sanches, Jose Veras and Leo Nunez combined to retire 12 straight batters.
John Bowker and Ronny Cedeno each had a pair of hits for the Pirates.
Notes: Stanton’s single in the fourth extended his hitting streak to 10 games. .. Pirates LF Jose Tabata had his hitting streak snapped at 14 games. … Alvarez’s hitting streak ended at 11 games.
