PITTSBURGH — Edinson Volquez didn’t throw a no-hitter this time. He thought he had no-hit stuff.

Volquez followed his no-hitter by pitching seven scoreless innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Thursday night.

“I threw more strikes, more breaking balls than the last time, and my fastball was better after the first inning,” Volquez said. “I thought my stuff was better.”

Volquez (3-7) allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked two while winning his third straight start. He helped the Marlins win for the ninth time in 12 games and raised his career record to 4-0 against the Pirates, a team he pitched for in 2013.

Volquez has allowed only one run in 22 innings during his streak, including a no-hitter last Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was winless in his first nine starts after being signed to a two-year, $22-million contract in the offseason to help fill the void left by the death of ace Jose Fernandez in a boating accident last September.

Volquez sustained an ankle injury in the first inning of the no-hitter but it was not an issue.

“I think his ankle injury has actually helped him,” manager Don Mattingly said. “He has to stay calm on that ankle and it keeps him from getting out of his delivery.”

Derek Dietrich and Christian Yelich both had three hits, including two doubles, for the Marlins and J.T. Realmuto and Tyler Moore added two hits each.

Volquez’s bid to become the second pitcher in baseball history to throw back-to-back no-hitters ended just two batters into the game when Josh Harrison had a bunt single down the third-base line.

“I said ‘Why’d you bunt?’ and he said, ‘Because you just threw a no-hitter,”’ Volquez said with a laugh. “I told him he could have it.”

Harrison doubled in the sixth to end a string of 12 straight batters retired by Volquez.

The Pirates, who lost their third straight, avoided a shutout in the ninth inning when Josh Bell had a run-scoring groundout.

Gerrit Cole (3-6) was tagged for seven runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings as his struggles continued.