(My Sportsbook) - The Florida Marlins will try to stretch their winning streak to eight games tonight, when they kick off a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

The Marlins own the best record in the majors at 11-1 and have yet to lose on the road in 2009. Following a 5-1 homestand to start the year, Florida has swept back-to-back three-game road series in Atlanta and Washington heading into the final stop on its nine-game trip.

The Fish needed to rally to take all three games from the Nationals. They won the first two games of the series in extra innings, then saw Cody Ross complete a five-RBI day with a three-run double in the ninth inning to lift the Marlins over the Nats, 7-4.

Ross tied the game in the eighth with a solo homer as well, while John Baker drove in two runs for Florida, which has won seven straight for its longest winning streak since it posted nine consecutive victories from September 9-19 of last year.

Chris Volstad pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits for Florida. Leo Nunez (2-0) gave up one run on as many hits in the eighth to collect the win and Matt Lindstrom retired the side in order in the ninth to post his third save of the season.

The Marlins turn to Andrew Miller tonight for his first-ever start against the Pirates. Miller went 6-10 with a 5.87 earned run average last year and made two bullpen appearances to begin this season before getting the start in Atlanta on Wednesday. The lefty got a no-decision in that one, yielding four runs on four hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings.

The Pirates counter with Ross Ohlendorf, who is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA this year and has never faded the Marlins before. The right-hander took a loss in St. Louis on April 9 despite six innings of two-run ball, then allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings of a loss to Houston on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh got excellent starting pitching on Friday and Saturday versus the Braves, posting wins of 3-0 and 11-1 to put itself in position to sweep a three-game set from Atlanta for the first time since 1994.

However, Zach Duke (2-1) was tagged for six runs on 12 hits in six frames in Sunday's 11-1 loss. Pitching on his 26th birthday, Duke entered the game having allowed only one earned run (3 total) in 15 1/3 innings this season.

The Pirates lost two of five to the Marlins last year and the clubs split a two-game set in the Steel City.