Pirates Sweep Away Marlins

Outfielder Adrian Brown deserved credit for a save in the Pittsburgh Pirates' victory over Florida Marlins.

Brown, who replaced Wil Cordero in left field in the eighth inning, saved an extra base hit and a run by making a leaping catch that turned into a rally-killing double play in the ninth inning of the Pirates' 5-2 win Wednesday night.

Brown jumped and grabbed a ball hit by Alex Gonzalez, and instead of a sure double it was a double play when Derrek Lee was trapped off first.

Brown said he was initially unsure whether to leap or to back away from the wall to play a carom.

"It seemed like the wind knocked it down and then I thought I had a chance," Brown said.

Cordero and Jason Kendall homered as the Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Marlins.

Francisco Cordova (3-4) won his second straight start as the Pirates matched their season high for consecutive wins with three. They also won three straight May 5-7.

Cordova pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowed two runs, 10 hits, struck out five and walked one.

"It's god that he could win without his best stuff," Kendall said. "That helps a pitcher's confidence."

Mike Williams got the last out for his eighth save.

The loss prompted Florida manager John Boles to close the doors for a meeting.

"I just told them that the first third of the season is over and we're better than that," he said. "Now just wash it out of their system, get ready for the next third and let's see what we can do."

Both of Pittsburgh's homers came off Florida starter Jesus Sanchez (4-4).

Warren Morris singled in the first for his seventh hit in 10 at-bats, and Cordero followed with his seventh homer.

Lee hit his eighth homer in the second inning for Florida to make it 2-1.

Kendall hit a solo shot in the third to make it 3-1.

The Marlins got within a run in the fourth when Mike Lowell doubled and scored on Gonzalez's single.

But the Pirates scored twice without a hit in the fourth. Sanchez walked two batters and second baseman Luis Castillo made an error. Mike Benjamin hit a sacrifice fly and another run scored on Cordova's infield grounder to cap the scoring.

Sanchez allowed five runs, four earned, five hits, struck out four and walked three in six innings.

The Marlins have dropped 11 of 13 and were 2-7 on a road trip to St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

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