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Fernandez wins duel

MIAMI – Gerrit Cole nearly matched Jose Fernandez in a game between two of the top pitchers in the National League.

Cole was eventually out-dueled by Fernandez in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 3-1 loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

“He rolled his sleeves up and pitched a heck of a game for us,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Cole (5-4) allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

“It was a fun ballgame for about six innings,” Cole said.

The Marlins broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the seventh inning. Ichiro Suzuki and J.T. Realmuto singled with one out before Christian Yelich’s base hit to right scored Suzuki.

“That slider got too much of the plate to Yelich,” Cole said.

A wild pitch by Cole allowed Realmuto to score and Justin Bour’s groundout extended the lead to 3-0.

“We got (Cole) in trouble a couple times, but he was able to make some really good pitches and get out of it,” Yelich said. “We were able to push a couple of runs across in the seventh and that’s all we needed.”

Fernandez (8-2) pitched seven scoreless innings.

“Jose was a really good again today,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I think we see every time out. It’s almost like he’s getting better every time.”

Fernandez struck out six and gave up three hits while throwing 62 of 88 pitches for strikes. His curveball was particularly effective.

“Oh my gosh, get behind home plate and watch it,” Hurdle said. “It’s almost like a Wiffle ball breaking ball. Then he throws the fastball at 98 and you’ve got to guess to hit that.”

Fernandez, who improved to 22-1 at home and lowered his season ERA to 2.53, left after the seventh inning with the Marlins leading 3-0.

“He didn’t want to come out,” Mattingly said. “He wants to pitch the whole game every game and he was at a pitch count tonight where you’re comfortable letting him go out. … He probably could have finished that game tonight, but he’s also a kid we’re still on the pitching plan in a sense with him through the course of the season and you’re still trying to work the whole season to keep him available the whole year.”

Suzuki had two hits to tie Sam Crawford for 31st on MLB’s all-time hit list with 2,963.

Marlins closer A.J. Ramos loaded the bases in the ninth with no outs. Gregory Polanco, who hit a grand slam in Monday’s 10-0 win, hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to cut the deficit to 3-1.

“When I hit it I knew I could have hit it better,” Polanco said.

Ramos then struck out Jung Ho Kang and Starling Marte flied out to end the game with two runners on.

“(Ramos) has actually been pretty clean most of the year,” Mattingly said. “We’ve had a couple of these (close ones), but A.J. seems to like that situation. I don’t know if he knows what it does to the rest of us, but A.J. doesn’t seem to get rattled when that’s going on.”

Fernandez was in complete control allowing only one baserunner in scoring position. He is 5-0 with a 0.79 ERA over his past five starts.

“He’s got very good stuff,” Polanco said.

Cole got out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the sixth when Chris Johnson lined out to second and Adeiny Hechavarria hit a soft fly ball to right field.

2011 draft class

Cole was selected first overall in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft by Pittsburgh while Fernandez went 14th by the Marlins.

“We have some good ones now in the big leagues doing a good job like (Francisco) Lindor, (Javier) Baez, and a bunch of guys,” Fernandez said. “Just fun to play this game and lucky to be here.”

Trainer’s room

Marlins: RF Giancarlo Stanton (right side soreness) missed his seventh consecutive games although Mattingly said before the game Stanton would likely be available to pinch-hit. … LHP Mike Dunn (forearm) was reinstated from the DL and is looking to make his season debut. … RHP Bryan Morris (back) will undergo surgery, but Mattingly is hopeful he will be able to return before the end of the season.

Up next

Pirates LHP Jonathon Niese (5-2, 4.42 ERA) will start the third game of the series tonight. Niese is 5-0 with a 3.74 ERA in his last nine starts against Miami, all as a member of the Mets.

Marlins LHP Adam Conley (3-3, 4.15) will start tonight’s game in search of his second quality start in his last six outings after 7 2-3 no-hit innings at Milwaukee on April 29.

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