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Nolasco Tries To Win Fourth Straight Decision In Finale With Bucs

(Sports Network) - Ricky Nolasco tries to win his fourth consecutive start this afternoon when the Florida Marlins play the rubber match of their three- game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Land Shark Stadium.

Nolasco stretched his unbeaten streak to four starts and won for the third time in a row on Monday against Washington, as he held the Nationals to a pair of runs and four hits in eight innings to improve to 5-6, while lowering his earned run average to 5.99.

In his five starts since a stint in Triple-A, Nolasco has allowed just seven runs over 33 frames.

Nolasco was roughed up by the Pirates earlier in the season and is 1-3 lifetime against them with a 3.14 ERA in six games, four of which have been starts.

Florida snapped a five-game losing streak to the Pirates on Saturday, as Emilio Bonifacio went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, helping the Marlins take a 5-3 win.

Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run for the Marlins, who have won four of their last five games. Andrew Miller (3-4) got the win as he gave up three runs on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Garrett Jones and Andy LaRoche each hit a solo home run for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four. Zach Duke (8-7) was tagged with the loss as he gave up four runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts over six innings of work.

"It was close, just one of those games we couldn't find a way to pull out," Pirates manager John Russell said.

Getting the call for the Bucs tonight will be 26-year-old right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, who has won two of his last three decisions. Ohlendorf was brilliant against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, as he scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and no walks to run his record to 7-6, while lowering his ERA to 4.41.

As good as Ohlendorf was in his last start, he was even better against the Marlins back on April 20 when he limited them to just two hits over seven scoreless frames.

Florida has won seven of its last nine home series against Pittsburgh.

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