NATIONAL LEAGUE Newly-acquired Justin Bay helps Bucs beat Marlins

In his first game, he reached base his first three times in a 4-0 win.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Maybe the Florida Marlins should try this to get out of their extended slump: Fly across the country with little rest, then jump right into a series in Pittsburgh.
Oops, guess they already did -- and it didn't help.
Newly acquired outfielder Jason Bay had no sleep and virtually no introduction to his new Pittsburgh teammates, but still had a hand in all the Pirates' scoring as they shut out Florida 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Bay, acquired with left-hander Oliver Perez from the Padres for Brian Giles, was playing at Triple-A Portland when he learned of the trade Tuesday night. After a hurried night of phone calls and packing, he caught a 6 a.m. flight to Pittsburgh.
On base three times
He didn't get to PNC Park until 21/2 hours before game time, but reached base his first three times up. He doubled ahead of Jose Hernandez's double in the second, then hit a long RBI single that deflected off left fielder Miguel Cabrera's glove during a three-run third.
"I didn't have time to think about anything and then, bang, bang, bang, all of a sudden, the game is starting," Bay said. "I didn't have time to get nervous."
Bay got everything he could have wanted on his first day with the Pirates. Except some sleep.
"Maybe I should do more of this, staying up all night," Bay said. "I did it on a lot of adrenaline -- and a cup of coffee."
The Marlins can relate to Bay's coast-to-coast travails. They have lost seven of eight on a road trip to Colorado, San Francisco and Pittsburgh that ends tonight, scoring more than four runs only once.
Still tied for lead
Despite their latest loss, they remain tied for the NL wild card lead.
"We need to get home and, hopefully, start turning things around," said Marlins starter Brad Penny. "Getting off this road trip will help us."
Getting a few hits would help more.
The Marlins were held to three hits by Kip Wells and two relievers and have just seven in losing the first two of the three-game series to the Pirates.
Wells (6-7) struck out seven, walked two and gave up two hits over six shutout innings, but was lifted after throwing 114 pitches. He ended a three-game losing streak and won for the first time in five starts since beating San Diego on July 30.
"He still has to be more efficient with his pitches so he can stay in the game and decide his own fate," manager Lloyd McClendon said.
Wells gets a hit
Wells helped himself with a leadoff single in the third against Penny, who lasted a season-low four innings. Tike Redman doubled ahead of Jack Wilson's two-run single -- a high-bouncing grounder off second base. Bay followed three batters later with his long, fly ball single.
Brian Meadows, roughed up for six runs in 4 1-3 innings as a starter Sunday in Milwaukee, followed Wells with two perfect innings in his first relief appearance since Aug. 10. Mark Corey pitched the ninth in a non-save situation.