Miguel Andujar hit an RBI double in the eighth inning and Jack Suwinski followed with a two-run double as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the visiting Miami Marlins 3-0 on Sunday to avoid being swept in a three-game series.
Five Pirates pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout.
The Marlins (84-77), who clinched a playoff spot with their win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, had to wait after the Sunday loss to find out that they officially clinched the second National League wild card. When the Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78) lost 8-1 to the Houston Astros, Miami was locked into the No. 2 wild card, setting up a playoff matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Had Arizona won on Sunday, the Marlins would have to go to New York on Monday to complete a game against the Mets that was suspended on Thursday. In that case, Miami would have needed a Monday win to grab the No. 2 wild card.
With the game scoreless in the eighth, Connor Joe doubled to left with one out against Bryan Hoeing (2-3). Jared Triolo walked, and Andujar drove in Joe with a double to the wall in left. Suwinski then doubled inside the left field line to make it 3-0.
The Pirates finished 76-86, a 14-win improvement over 2022.
Pittsburgh starter Andre Jackson pitched four scoreless innings, giving up one hit, striking out two and walking one.
Dauri Moreta (5-2) struck out the side in the eighth for the win. David Bednar fanned two in a perfect ninth for his 39th save.
Miami starter Ryan Weathers, recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks. He struck out five.
The Pirates missed a couple of chances to take the lead early.
In the second, Henry Davis drew a one-out walk. He was caught attempting to steal second, costly because Liover Peguero followed with his first career triple. The threat ended when Nick Gonzales grounded out.
In the third, Ji Hwan Bae walked to lead off for the Pirates. He went to second when Jason Delay reached on third baseman Jon Berti’s error. Bae, however, was thrown out attempting to steal third and the threat fizzled.
Meanwhile, Miami’s only hits through six innings were Jesus Sanchez’s two-out single in the first and Xavier Edwards’ two-out single in the sixth.
In the Miami seventh, Garrett Hampson singled to left — again with two outs — and went to second on Kyle Nicolas’ wild pitch, but Joey Wendle struck out to end the frame.
Gonzales doubled to left-center with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Huascar Brazoban got Bae for his third strikeout of the inning.
–Field Level Media
