Lincoln leads Pirates to third straight victory

Associated Press

MIAMI

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ relievers came through again Monday, this time for one of their own.

Brad Lincoln pitched six innings to earn a victory in his first start of the season, and three relievers protected a one-run lead with three shutout innings to help beat the Miami Marlins 3-2.

“After Linc, we turned it over to our bullpen,” said catcher Rod Barajas, who hit his second homer. “And our bullpen has been lights out all season long.”

Lincoln (3-0), who had come out of the bullpen in his seven previous appearances this season, departed for a pinch-hitter with a 3-2 lead after throwing 80 pitches.

“That’s a big-time effort. We could not have asked for any more,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He threw as hard as he could for as long as he could.”

The Pirates started a seven-game, three-city trip with their third victory in a row, and they’re within one game of .500. They had lost eight consecutive games to the Marlins and went 0-6 against them last year.

“We talked about it before the game. We haven’t beat them in a long time,” Hurdle said. “It’s time for us to do something.”

The Pirates, who rank last in the majors in runs, won with only six hits. Barajas, who began the week batting .162, homered in the second inning, and Pedro Alvarez put Pittsburgh ahead to stay with an RBI double in the sixth.

The Marlins had runners at first and third with one out in the eighth.

Jason Grilli escaped the jam when he struck out Logan Morrison and got Giancarlo Stanton to pop out.

“That’s not easy to get the last two guys that he did over there, Morrison and Stanton,” Hurdle said. “That’s not easy work. To be first and third looking at those two guys, good for him.”

Joel Hanrahan pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in eight chances. The bullpen lowered its ERA to 2.54.