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Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3) at Florida Marlins (3-2), 1:10 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Florida Marlins vie to finish off a season-opening homestand with a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates when the teams square off again this afternoon at Dolphin Stadium.

Florida registered its second victory in as many days over the Pirates with Saturday's 7-3 decision. Mike Jacobs, the hero of the Marlins' 5-4 win against Pittsburgh on Friday, led the charge with a fifth-inning grand slam.

Hanley Ramirez also homered for Florida, which is now 3-2 on its six-game residency, while Mark Hendrickson earned his first win as a Marlin with 5 1/3 decent innings on the mound.

Jacobs, who belted a game-winning solo home run in the 10th inning in Friday's contest, is 4-for-9 with five RBI and four runs scored thus far in the series. The first baseman went just 1-for-11 in Florida's three-game set with the New York Mets earlier in the week.

Hendrickson (1-1) surrendered three runs -- one earned -- on five hits and struck out four. Four Marlin relievers then combined to hold the Bucs scoreless over the final 3 2/3 frames.

Pirates starter Paul Maholm struck out a career-best nine batters in five innings, but the left-hander allowed five runs to suffer the loss in his 2008 debut.

Chris Gomez delivered a two-run single for Pittsburgh, which began the year by taking two of three games from Atlanta on the road.

The Pirates played a second straight game without second baseman Freddy Sanchez (sore shoulder) and shortstop Jack Wilson (strained left calf). Sanchez did draw a walk as a pinch-hitter in last night's loss and is considered questionable to return to the starting lineup today, while Wilson will likely sit out again with his injury.

Opening Day starter Ian Snell takes the mound for the Pirates in today's finale and looks to improve upon a mediocre first outing of the season.

Against Atlanta on Monday, Snell gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings of an eventual 12-11 Pirates' win. The hard-throwing righty did not factor in the decision of the contest, which wound up lasting 13 innings.

Snell, who registered career bests with a 3.76 earned run average and 177 strikeouts in 2007, has given up 10 runs and 13 hits in just 7 1/3 innings in two previous starts against Florida, one a loss and the other a no decision. He did not face the Marlins last season, however.

Florida will hand the ball to 22-year-old Rick Vanden Hurk, who started out strong in his season debut but could only last three-plus innings against the Mets on Tuesday. After holding New York scoreless over the first three frames, the Dutch native was pulled after surrendering three straight singles to begin the fourth. All three runners ended up scoring during the inning.

Vanden Hurk, who will be meeting the Pirates for the first time, allowed six hits and walked one while fanning three in Tuesday's no decision. Only 44 of his 76 pitches went for strikes.

With Saturday's triumph, the Marlins have now defeated Pittsburgh in eight of the last 11 meetings between the clubs at Dolphin Stadium. The Pirates did win two of three tilts in their lone visit to Miami last year, however.


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