Help is on the way for the Marlins' bullpen.

Luis Ayala was on his way to Class AAA New Orleans after signing with the Marlins. Released Wednesday by Minnesota, Ayala has not pitched in more than two weeks.

Ayala, 31, has a 3.50 ERA over six seasons. He was 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 28 games for the Twins this year. He missed the 2006 season recovering from "Tommy John" surgery.

"We need good weapons with experience, especially right now," said third baseman Jorge Cantu, who played with Ayala in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico. "And having another Mexican guy in here doesn't hurt either."

Pirates 7, Marlins 4:    RHP Chris Volstad allowed four runs on three hits in three innings before leaving the game after a 45-minute rain delay.

Home runs from two unexpected sources powered the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-4 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday night. Brandon Moss and Ramon Vazquez hit the long balls to support Charlie Morton's six shutout innings. Moss's home run was his second of the season. Vazquez, starting a second consecutive game for injured second baseman Freddy Gonzalez, belted his first homer since July...

Asked to explain Florida's baffling mastery of the Washington Nationals, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez offered the simplest explanation. "We've been lucky," he said. Having Hanley Ramirez has helped a little bit, too. Ramirez extended his RBI streak to 10 games and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Marlins won 5-3 Wednesday and remained unbeaten against the...

Hanley Ramirez and the Florida Marlins struck right before the weather ended the Washington Nationals' night. Ramirez homered and drove in four runs, and the Marlins erased a four-run deficit to beat Washington 7-5 Tuesday in a game that was called in the seventh inning because of rain. Ramirez's two-run single in the seventh put the Marlins ahead 6-5.

Ricky Nolasco gave Scott Olsen a ride to the ballpark on Monday afternoon, the friends and former teammates chatting and catching up. They'll have plenty to talk about next time. Nolasco retired the final 13 batters he faced, spoiling Olsen's stellar return from the disabled list and helping the Florida Marlins stay perfect against the Washington Nationals with a 4-2 victory Monday night.

David Price is showing flashes of what made him so dominant in Tampa Bay's World Series run last season. Price allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Florida Marlins 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday. "I'm close," Price said. "I'm getting there.

There's no debate over what a healthy and productive Scott Kazmir can do for Tampa Bay's chances of getting back to the World Series. "Kaz is a huge part of what we're doing," manager Joe Maddon said after the 25-year-old made his first start in over a month Friday night, working five innings in a 3-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.

After a slow start, B.J. Upton is heating up as Tampa Bay's leadoff hitter. The speedy centerfielder had two hits, stole a base and drove in three runs with a double that snapped an eighth-inning tie Friday night, helping the Rays beat the Florida Marlins 7-3 in the opener of their weekend series.

Hanley Ramirez and the rest of the Florida Marlins' sluggers allowed Sean West to relax a little on the mound with a big lead. Ramirez hit a grand slam, Cody Ross and Dan Uggla each homered, and West scattered four hits over six scoreless innings as the Marlins cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 11-3 on Thursday night.

Ricky Nolasco's two-week stint in the minors appears to have helped him regain his 2008 form. Hanley Ramirez and Cody Ross both drove in two runs and Nolasco had his fourth straight strong outing since being recalled from the minors as Florida beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Wednesday night, the Marlins' fourth straight victory.