Ashcraft Goes Distance, Pirates Avoid Sweep With Blowout Win Over Marlins

MIAMI — The Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins (62-60) played to a scoreless tie through the first four innings before the Pirates (59-64) pulled away for a 13-1 win Thursday afternoon at loanDepot park, avoiding a sweep.

Pittsburgh hit four home runs Thursday, including two from catcher Rafael Flores, who batted ninth.

Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who faced Miami at PNC Park on June 12 and finished with a no-decision, was phenomenal at loanDepot park Thursday.

It took Ashcraft 85 pitches to complete the game, facing one batter over the minimum.

Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips was in cruise control entering the fifth, before running into some trouble. 

Jake Mangum led off with a triple before scoring on a balk by Phillips as the home-plate umpire motioned Mangum home.

The very next batter, Jared Triolo, hit a solo home run to right-center field that Jakob Marsee got a glove on before the ball bounced over the wall.

That extended the Pirates' lead to 2-0.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Marsee made a tremendous grab, robbing Esmerlyn Valdez of a two-run home run in a key defensive play during Miami’s 8-2 victory.

Replacing Phillips was left-hander Cade Gibson, who ran into trouble of his own in a three-run sixth inning that all but sealed Miami’s fate Thursday.

Gibson settled down in the seventh inning after opening with command issues.

Ashcraft was well on his way to a shutout before right fielder Owen Caissie took him deep in the bottom of the ninth inning for his 13th home run and 52nd RBI of the season.

The Marlins, after scoring 10 runs in the first two games of the series, including eight on Wednesday, were unable to generate any offense against Ashcraft.

Miami hitters struck out 10 times, with Leo Jiménez and Caissie each striking out twice. Six Marlins hitters struck out at least once.

Position player Javier Sanoja, Miami’s primary third baseman, pitched in the eighth inning after reliever John King allowed a three-run home run to Flores, who drove in six runs in the game.

Sanoja coming in to pitch helped preserve Miami’s bullpen arms as the club prepares for an important six-game road trip against the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, beginning Friday at 6:10 p.m. ET.

At 62-60, the Marlins sit two games out of the final National League Wild Card spot and will look to start a new winning streak behind ace Sandy Alcantara.