Pirates 4, Marlins 3

MIAMI – Oliver Perez outpitched All-Star Carl Pavano, and the Pittsburgh Pirates got back to their winning ways with a 4-3 victory over the Florida Marlins.

Pittsburgh threw out the potential tying run at the plate to end the seventh inning on a strong relay from left fielder Rob Mackowiak to third baseman Bobby Hill.

The Marlins are 2-6 in their last eight games and have dropped 10 of 14.

Perez (5-4) pitched five innings, allowing four hits and two runs. He struck out four, well off his pace from the last two starts when he combined for 24 strikeouts.

Five relievers finished up, with Jose Mesa getting three outs for his 22nd save in 23 chances. Catcher Jason Kendall made two strong throws in the ninth, cutting down speedy Luis Castillo at second on Juan Pierre’s bunt, then nailing Pierre trying to steal second.

Mesa struck out Damion Easley with two on to end it.

The Pirates took advantage of an error by Easley at first base in the fifth. That led to three runs, and Pittsburgh wiped out a 2-1 deficit.

With two outs and the bases empty, Abraham Nunez hit a sharp grounder through Easley’s legs for an error. Nunez then scored on Mackowiak’s double. Hill also hit a double to left, scoring Mackowiak to make it 3-2.

Tike Redman beat out an infield single that scored Craig Wilson from third.

Pavano lost his second straight start as the Marlins dropped their second consecutive home series.

Pavano (9-4), who had gone at least seven innings in 13 straight starts, worked six against the Pirates. He allowed four runs – one earned – and seven hits. He struck out six.

The Marlins pulled to 4-3 in the seventh on Mike Lowell’s sacrifice fly. The Pirates then cut down Miguel Cabrera at the plate on Easley’s double into the left-field corner.

Florida scored a run in the first. Cabrera and Lowell reached on two-out walks, and Easley delivered an RBI single to center.

The Pirates tied it in the third, helped by Pavano, who loaded the bases by walking Mackowiak with two outs, then hit Wilson with a pitch to bring home Perez, who reached on a single.

Florida took a 2-1 lead in the third. Pierre led off with a single, stole second and scored on Easley’s two-out single to left.

Easley finished with three hits and two RBIs.

Notes: Pirates All-Star shortstop Jack Wilson, who leads the NL in hits, missed the game because of an irritated left knee and is day to day. Nunez started in place of Wilson and went 1-for-4. … Marlins OF Jeff Conine sat out for the second straight day. Josh Willingham, called up from Double-A Carolina, started again and got his first major league hit, a single in the fifth.

AP-ES-07-07-04 2216EDT