MIAMI - All the Pittsburgh Pirates need to get into the NL playoff race is to play a lot more games against the Florida Marlins.

Matt Lawton and Chris Duffy had four hits apiece, helping the Pirates come from behind twice Tuesday night to beat their favorite foil, 6-3.

Pittsburgh is 13-4 against Florida since the start of 2003, with wins in eight of the past nine meetings.

"We play well against these guys," said Josh Fogg (5-6), who won for the first time in his past 10 starts. "We have some confidence playing these guys, and confidence is a big thing in this game."

Take away a 1-4 record this season against the Pirates, and Florida would be third in the NL East instead of fifth.

"I'm glad we're playing them now and not in September," said Brian Moehler (6-7), who lost for the first time in five July starts. "They seem to give us fits."

Fogg lasted just 5

innings but earned his first win since June 1, also against Florida. He gave up three runs and nine hits but singled home the Pirates' first run for his first RBI of the season.

Daryle Ward drove in three runs for the Pirates, who overcame deficits of 1-0 and 3-2 to win for the fourth time in five games.

Lawton and Duffy, batting 1-2, sparked Pittsburgh's 15-hit attack. Lawton went 4-for-4 with a walk and stole three bases. He singled home a run in the second, and doubled and scored in the sixth.

Duffy, a rookie, went 4-for-5, scored twice, drove in a run and stole his first two bases of the season.

"He swung the bat really well," Lawton said. "He used the whole field. He's going to be a great player in this league. He's fun to watch."

Duffy was dropped to second in the order for the first time after batting leadoff in seven games.

"I thought being in the second spot might take a little bit of the pressure off him," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Both of those guys had wonderful nights."

Ward fouled off four consecutive 2-2 pitches and hit a two-run double on the 10th pitch to put Pittsburgh ahead to stay and to knock out Moehler. Ward also singled home a run in the sixth.

Moehler gave up nine hits in 4

innings and left trailing 4-3.

Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances.

The Marlins had hit 12 homers and scored 40 runs in their previous five games. But 12 hits off four Pittsburgh pitchers were all singles, and Florida grounded into four inning-ending double plays.

The Pirates, meanwhile, scored four runs with two outs.

"They've got a scrappy little club," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "They've got a lot of inexperience, but they just go out and play hard."

An intentional walk hurt Florida in the second, when the Pirates scored twice. Jose Castillo singled and advanced on a groundout, and Jack Wilson was intentionally walked. Fogg foiled the strategy with an RBI single, and Lawton also singled home a run.

Notes:

Lawton's four-hit game was his third this season and the 15th of his career. ... Pierre went 3-for-3 versus Fogg, hiking his average to .524 (11-for-21) against the right-hander. ... Florida's 12 singles with no extra-base hits matched a club record. ... The Marlins have lost eight consecutive series openers.