Locke (4-3) surrendered just three hits, did not register a walk and threw only 105 pitches as he logged the first shutout and first complete game of his career. It is the first time in his six-year career that Locke has won three consecutive starts.
Polanco’s eighth homerun of the season capped off a five-run sixth inning and Sean Rodriguez added his sixth homer of the year in the ninth, as Pittsburgh turned out 14 hits. First baseman David Freese had a four-hit, two-RBI night and three Pirates players scored a pair of runs.
The first two games of this four-game series were originally scheduled to be played in Puerto Rico. However, concerns about the recent Zika virus outbreak prompted all four games to also be played in Miami.
Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton missed his sixth consecutive game with soreness in his side. Pablo Ozuna had his 11-game hitting streak and 36-game streak of reaching base safely snapped.
Pittsburgh has now won nine out of the past 10 meetings with the Marlins, outscoring them 54-20 in that span. The Bucs look to take the second game in the series Tuesday night as aces Gerrit Cole (5-3, 2.53) and Jose Fernandez (7-2, 2.82) are scheduled to pitch. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM.
