Karstens, Sanchez lift Bucs past Florida

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jeff Karstens picked up where Ross Ohlendorf left off.

Pittsburgh’s pitchers are feeding off each other’s success these days.

Karstens pitched six sharp innings, Freddy Sanchez homered and the surging Pirates beat the Florida Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Karstens allowed one run and three hits for the Pirates, who lead the league in ERA and have won four of their last five games. Sanchez finished with three hits.

“A lot of people doubted us, but we all believe in ourselves and we all believe in each other,” Karstens said of the staff that has a 3.00 ERA so far this season after finishing with an NL-worst 5.10 ERA last year. “That’s all that matters right now. Enough can’t be said for [new pitching coach Joe Kerrigan]; we’re more prepared than any team in the league.”

Ohlendorf allowed two hits over seven innings as Pittsburgh beat Florida 8-0 on Monday for its third shutout in four games. The Pirates have four shutouts this season; the other 13 NL teams have combined for six. Pirates starters have allowed more than two runs in four of their 14 games.

“Those guys are giving us a chance to win ballgames,” shortstop Jack Wilson said.

Cameron Maybin hit his first National League homer for Florida, which has lost two straight against the Pirates after opening the season with an 11-1 stretch.

Matt Capps pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Karstens (1-0) won for the first time since Aug. 6, when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning at Arizona. Karstens, acquired from the New York Yankees in the Xavier Nady trade in July, didn’t allow a run in his first two Pirates starts but had been 0-6 since.