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(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates try to avoid their sixth straight loss this evening when they open a brief two-game series with the Florida Marlins at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh was swept in a three-game set over the weekend by the Chicago Cubs, culminating with a 13-6 drubbing in Sunday's finale. Ryan Doumit hit a pair of solo home runs for the Pirates, whose skid comes on the heels of a four-game win streak.

Nate McLouth singled in the loss, extending his hitting streak to 18 games. McClouth's tear has equaled the longest hitting streak to open a year by a Pirates player since Al Oliver in 1972. His streak is also the longest by a Pittsburgh player at any time since Jason Kendall's 20-game run in 2004.

Zach Duke (0-1) absorbed the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits in four innings of work.

Matt Morris will also be trying to get off the schneid tonight, as he tries once again for his first win of the season. Morris lost his second straight start last Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, surrendering six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings to drop to 0-2 on the year, while ballooning his ERA to 7.02.

Morris received a no-decision in his season debut against Florida, but is 7-5 lifetime against them with a 4.59 ERA in 15 games, 12 of which have been starts.

Florida, meanwhile, at 11-7 is off to its best 18-game start since 2005. The Marlins continued their impressive start on Sunday, as Scott Olsen threw seven brilliant innings and Hanley Ramirez homered twice to lead Florida past the Washington Nationals, 6-1, in the finale of a three-game set at Dolphin Stadium.

Olsen (3-0) gave up only one run and three hits in his time on the mound for the Marlins, who have won two straight after dropping their previous two.

A big reason for Florida's early season success has been the left arm of Mark Hendrickson, who has won his last three starts. Hendrickson defeated the Atlanta Braves his last time out, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 frames to run his record to 3-1, while lowering his ERA to 3.97.

Hendrickson got the best of the Pirates earlier in the year and is 2-0 in his career against them with a 2.76 ERA in three games.

Florida took two of three from the Pirates earlier in the year and is 10-7 in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign, including a 4-3 mark in Pittsburgh in that time.