MIAMI — Gerrit Cole nearly matched Jose Fernandez in a game between two of the top pitchers in the National League.

Cole was eventually out-dueled by Fernandez in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 3-1 loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

“He rolled his sleeves up and pitched a heck of a game for us,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Cole (5-4) allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

“It was a fun ballgame for about six innings,” Cole said.

The Marlins broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the seventh inning. Ichiro Suzuki and J.T. Realmuto singled with one out before Christian Yelich’s base hit to right scored Suzuki.

“That slider got too much of the plate to Yelich,” Cole said.

A wild pitch by Cole allowed Realmuto to score and Justin Bour’s groundout extended the lead to 3-0.

“We got (Cole) in trouble a couple times, but he was able to make some really good pitches and get out of it,” Yelich said. “We were able to push a couple of runs across in the seventh and that’s all we needed.”

Fernandez (8-2) pitched seven scoreless innings.

“Jose was really good again today,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I think we see every time out. It’s almost like he’s getting better every time.”

Fernandez struck out six and gave up three hits while throwing 62 of 88 pitches for strikes. His curveball was particularly effective.

“Oh my gosh, get behind home plate and watch it,” Hurdle said. “It’s almost like a Wiffle ball breaking ball. Then he throws the fastball at 98 and you’ve got to guess to hit that.”

Fernandez, who improved to 22-1 at home and lowered his season ERA to 2.53, left after the seventh inning with the Marlins leading 3-0.

“He didn’t want to come out,” Mattingly said. “He wants to pitch the whole game every game and he was at a pitch count tonight where you’re comfortable letting him go out. ... He probably could have finished that game tonight.”

Suzuki had two hits to tie Sam Crawford for 31st on MLB’s all-time hit list with 2,963.

Marlins closer A.J. Ramos loaded the bases in the ninth with no outs. Gregory Polanco, who hit a grand slam in Monday’s 10-0 win, hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to cut the deficit to 3-1.

“When I hit it I knew I could have hit it better,” Polanco said.