Sep 3, 2003 5 min read

MIAMI (AP) – Jason Kendall keeps showing up and spoiling things for Dontrelle Willis and the Florida Marlins. Kendall had four hits and two RBIs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Kendall, who went 6-for-11 in a three-game sweep of the Marlins last week, had three singles and a double for the Pirates, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Kip Wells (7-7) allowed two runs and six hits in seven-plus innings to beat the Marlins for the second time in less than a week.

Julian Tavarez pitched two innings of perfect relief for his fourth save.

Willis (11-6) fell to 0-4 in his last five starts for the Marlins, whose four-game winning streak was stopped. Florida fell back into a tie with Philadelphia for the top spot in the NL wild-card race. The Phillies beat Montreal on Tuesday night.

Florida’s Luis Castillo had his 15-game hitting streak – the longest active in the majors – halted. He went 0-for-2 with two sacrifices.

It was the second straight impressive outing against the Marlins for Wells, who pitched six scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory Aug. 27.

But it was Kendall who stole the spotlight for the Pirates and helped cool the Marlins, who swept the Expos over the weekend. He’s 10-for-15 with four RBIs in the four games against Florida.

“I’m not playing this game to be a spoiler in August and September,” Kendall said. “I enjoy playing the game, and I want to do what it takes to help my team win.

“My philosophy is to see the ball, hit it and hope it falls in somewhere.”

Kendall seems to be finding the holes lately, and the Marlins have four losses to show for it.

“He’s the guy who’s killing us,” Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. “He did it up there last week and again tonight. You can’t leave anything up against him. He’s a tough out. He’s always been a clutch hitter.”

Wells has just two victories since July 30 – both in the last week against Florida.

“I felt like I did a good job of throwing strikes when I needed to, and the defense played great behind me and made some plays when we needed them,” Wells said.

Willis, who had two hits and an RBI, allowed three runs two earned and six runs and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings.

It wasn’t enough, though, to keep him out of the loss column. Willis, who made the All-Star team as a rookie, has three wins in 12 starts since July 2. After walking Jack Wilson, Willis left with two outs in the seventh.

Kendall greeted Nate Bump with a double to the left-field gap to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead.

“I made some good pitches, but they put just enough wood on some of them to drive in the runs they needed,” Willis said. “I like how we’re playing ball. We’re in every game down the stretch, and that’s all you can ask.”

Wells left after giving up consecutive walks to pinch-hitter Todd Hollandsworth and Juan Pierre to lead off the eighth.

Tavarez came in and Luis Castillo advanced pinch-runner Gerald Williams and Pierre with his sacrifice. Ivan Rodriguez hit a run-scoring grounder to make it 3-2. Newly acquired Jeff Conine then grounded out to end the inning, stranding Pierre at third.

Willis knocked in the game’s first run in the second, lining a two-out single up the middle to score Juan Encarnacion from second.

The Pirates tied it in the third on Reggie Sanders’ bloop single to right with two outs.

The Pirates added an unearned run in the fifth for a 2-1 lead. With Tike Redman on first after a single, Willis’ pickoff attempt sailed over first baseman Derrek Lee’s head. Redman took second on the play and advanced to third on Wilson’s deep fly to center.

Kendall followed with his go-ahead single to right.

The Marlins missed a chance at a big inning in the fifth. Willis hit a leadoff single, and Pierre appeared to reach on a throwing error by Wells following a bunt. Wells’ throw hit Pierre in the back and went into foul territory beyond the bag, allowing Willis to reach third.

However, Pierre was called out by plate umpire Steve Rippley for running inside the line, and Willis was brought back to first. Luis Castillo then bounced into a double play to end the inning.

“We pitched well and that’s the key,” Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. “It’s all about timely hitting and pitching. We want to be like those guys. That’s a championship-quality club.”

NOTES: Willis’ RBI was his fourth of the season. … The Pirates had seven hits after getting at least 10 in their previous eight games. … Redman has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games for the Pirates.