Miami Marlins Lose On Walk-Off Homer By Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3

Aug 3, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Mike Dunn (40) wipes his head before taking the pitching mound during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins dropped the first game of their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in walk-off fashion.  Pinch-hitter  Josh Harrison led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run to rightfield to give the Pirates a 4-3 victory.

Henderson Alvarez turned in another quality start for the Marlins, his fifth in seven total starts, going seven innings and allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits and no bases on balls.  He also struck out 6 Pirates on 90 total pitches.  Alvarez gave up all 3 runs with 2 outs in the third inning on a double and a triple by the Pirates number 3 and 4 hitters, Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez.  Alvarez left the game with the score tied 3-3 and was not involved in the decision.

Mike Dunn gave up the game winner and took the loss for the Marlins.  Dunn entered the game in the eighth inning and appeared on his way to being the hero as he worked out of a bases loaded no out jam by getting a strike out and a double play grounder.  However, he came back out to start the ninth and gave up the walk off homer to the first batter of the inning.

On offense the Marlins struggled with runners in scoring position again going just 3-for-14 in those situations and leaving 11 men on base total.  Especially frustrating were leaving 2 men on in the 6^th inning and the bases loaded in the 7^th inning.

The Marlins scored their first run in the second inning when Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to score Donovan Solano who had singled to lead off the inning.  They got their other 2 runs in the third inning  as Logan Morrison hit a long single off the top of the rightfield wall to score Ed Lucas and Solano followed him with a run-scoring single to left.  Solano had 3 hits on the night and Morrison and Lucas each had 2 to lead an 11 hit attack.

Mike Dunn took the loss and fell to 2-3 on the season while Bryan Morris was credited with the win in relief for the Pirates running his record to 5-4.  The loss was the 3^rd in a row for the Marlins and dropped them to 43-68 on the season.

Up Next: Tom Koehler (3-6) takes the mound today for the Marlins and will face Charlie Morton (3-3) for the Pirates in the 2^nd game of the series.