Perhaps predictably, the Marlins’ Josh Johnson dominated the Pirates on Tuesday, racking up nine strikeouts in seven two-hit innings, and the Marlins won 6-0. Two Marlins relievers, Mike Dunn and Brian Sanches, combined for two hitless innings with three strikeouts, bringing the ugly total for the game to two hits and 12 strikeouts.
Johnson also helped his own cause with a two-run single in the second, which he struck after Pirates starter Paul Maholm threw him three straight curveballs to similar locations.
In the fourth inning, John Buck hit another curveball for an RBI double, and then Hanley Ramirez picked up an RBI when Maholm walked in a run. Mike Crotta then entered for the Pirates and allowed a weak single to shallow center by Gaby Sanchez that scored two more runs.
Garrett Jones reached base twice for the Pirates, but the only other hitter to reach base at all was pinch-hitter John Bowker.