Adam LaRoche follows through with a double in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game with Florida. LaRoche, who usually starts the season slowly, recorded four hits in the Pirates' 7-4 win over the Marlins that gave them a series sweep.

PITTSBURGH - Adam LaRoche can't explain why he's gone from being the majors' worst hitter in April to one of its best. All he wants to do is keep hitting like he's not supposed to during a month he and the Pittsburgh Pirates once dreaded.

LaRoche had four hits and little brother Andy drove in a pair of runs, leading the surprising Pirates to a 7-4 victory over Florida Wednesday and a three-game sweep of the team with baseball's best record.

Florida began the series with an 11-1 record, a seven-game winning streak and a 6-0 road record, only to be outscored 18-6 while being swept in a three-game series by Pittsburgh for the first time since May 30-June 1, 2005.

"They played better the whole series, they ran the bases and got key hits when they had to and they pitched real good," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But I think we'll be fine, we'll get recharged when we get back home (Friday)."

The Pirates didn't get their usual standout starting pitching their starters came in with a 2.79 ERA so they relied instead on the brothers LaRoche and balance throughout the lineup to win their fifth in six games. Seven players had at least one hit each, including starting pitcher Paul Maholm, as the Pirates scored in five different innings.

Pittsburgh is 9-6, its best start since opening 10-5 in 2002. The Pirates were 7-8 a year ago, 6-9 in 2007 and 4-11 in 2005 and 2006.

The Pirates played with confidence during a 6-3 homestand, and what can Adam LaRoche say about his excellent April?

He went 4-for-5 with three doubles to raise his average to .304, which is .125 higher than his .179 career average in April coming into this season. According to Stats LLC, the only NL hitters since 1900 with worse career averages in April were Dal Maxvill (.174) and Clete Boyer (.175).

"That's behind me now," said LaRoche, who appears to be staying on breaking pitches much better than he once did. "If I could answer that, I would have faced it four years ago. I have no idea what it is, but I'm not complaining."

Adam LaRoche doubled in a run during the first against Ricky Nolasco (1-2), then singled ahead of Andy LaRoche's sacrifice fly during a two-run third that made it 3-0. The LaRoche brothers also doubled in the fifth to produce another run.