Bailey Falter carries no-hitter into 7th inning, Pirates beat Marlins 3-1 for sweep of season series

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh left-hander Bailey Falter carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon for a sweep of the season series.

Falter (8-7) allowed three walks before Jonah Bride dropped a single into left field with one out in the seventh.

“I don’t really worry about that stuff,” Falter said, referring to the no-hit bid. "My job is to go out there and put up zeroes and get those guys off the field as quickly as possible.”

The 27-year-old Falter gave up a leadoff single to Cristian Pache in the eighth before being pulled on 93 pitches (57 strikes) after getting the first out with Kyle Stowers flying to center. Four of Falter’s five strikeouts came in the first five batters, striking out the side in the first inning on 10 pitches.

“I actually had a terrible bullpen session, so I came out there, guns hot, and told myself, ‘Dude, I’m just going to grip this and rip it and see where it takes us.’ That’s what happens," Falter said.

David Bednar pitched the ninth but could not pick up his first save since Aug. 23. Otto Lopez led off with a double before Jake Burger reached on an error by shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Bednar struck out Bride and Jesús Sánchez before Pache hit an RBI single up the middle.

Jalen Beeks came in for Bednar, allowing an infield single to Stowers that loaded the bases, and got Xavier Edwards to fly out to right for his 10th save.

“I think we’re getting better,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We’re in a definite, much better spot than we have (been) in the last two years with our starting pitching. We’re deeper than we have been. We have to continue to build things offensively and continue to grow that depth.”

Jonathan Bermúdez (0-1) got through two innings for Miami, allowing three runs and three hits with one walk in his first major-league start.

The Marlins lost each of their seven games against the Pirates this season. They were swept to open the season in Miami, losing four games by a combined score of 31-17 before dropping the past three in Pittsburgh.

“Those guys fought,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “There’s no doubt about it, they fought all three games. Had a chance to win or tie all three games. We just couldn’t come up with the big hit late. Falter was really good, fastball at the top of the zone that we couldn’t get on top of. Not a lot of hard contact. Not a lot of great plays behind him, just a lot of weak contact and strikeouts.”

Pittsburgh scored twice in the first inning. Bryan Reynolds hit a one-out double into right field, later scoring when Oneil Cruz walked with the bases loaded; Joey Bart went home on a sacrifice fly from Connor Joe.

Jared Triolo extended the lead to 3-0 the next inning with his eighth homer of the season.

“It was kind of sick,” Triolo said of watching Falter. “It was really sick, actually. But not very cool to not talk to him for a while, but cool to see him do that.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP John McMillon replaced Bermúdez to start the third inning, allowing a leadoff single to Nick Gonzales before being immediately removed after two fastballs in the high 80s. He was pulled with tightness in his right forearm/elbow area, Schumaker said.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 7.40 ERA) will start Thursday to open a four-game series at Washington. The Nationals have not announced a starter.

Pirates: RHP Luis Ortiz (6-5, 3.26) will take the mound Friday, opening a three-game series against the Royals. Kansas City has not announced a starter.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Miami Marlins' Jesus Sanchez, left, steals second base ahead of the tag by Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Maimi Marlins starting pitcher Jonathan Bermudez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Miami Marlins relief pitcher John McMillon, left, leaves the field after an injury during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, right, steals second base ahead of the tag by Miami Marlins second baseman Javier Sanoja, during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Triolo rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are extending their operating agreement with Broward County for five more years, ensuring that the team remains in the market through 2033 and likely well beyond.

County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved the revised terms, which include the Panthers giving $51.5 million to eliminate remaining debt on the county-owned arena where the team plays. The current deal runs through 2028.

The updated terms also give the county two five-year options to extend the agreement even further. If those extensions are not picked up, the county will have to return some or all of the $51.5 million debt payment to the Panthers.

“It was important to the county to keep the Panthers in Broward County long term,” Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell said. “We're excited about it. It's a great, great step forward for our long-term future.”

What was approved Tuesday was a term sheet. Binding documents have yet to be written, though that process is expected to be relatively smooth now that this stage has been cleared. There are concessions from both sides: The county will invest $25 million annually for capital expenditures and expenses related to the operating of Amerant Bank Arena, while the team agreed to have Broward County advertising on player helmets, to continue using local businesses as vendors whenever possible and to donate at least $11.7 million over the next nine years toward local causes and promoting youth hockey.

“Public-private partnerships have to be good for both sides, and this one is,” Caldwell said.

The team recently spent well over $65 million to refurbish the War Memorial in Fort Lauderdale, east of the team's game-night home in Sunrise, and turn that building into the franchise's practice facility with new retail and dining options. The exact amount of what the team spent on that project isn't known; $65 million was the budget, and all the Panthers have conceded publicly is that their final costs were much higher.

“People are excited that we're here for the long-term, that we're extending," Caldwell said.

The Panthers, including playoff games, exceeded 1 million in attendance last season for the first time in team history. The team — which struggled with poor attendance and constantly dealt with relocation rumors before the franchise turned around its fortunes — was ninth in the NHL in average regular-season attendance last season.

Michael Udine, one of the county commissioners, said from the dais at Tuesday's meeting that “something special” has happened with the Panthers and the Broward community in recent years.

“When I went to the first hockey game in South Florida about 30 years ago and the ice was melting when you were in the stands, if you would have said in this short period of time that we'd be No. 9 in the NHL during the regular season for attendance, I think people would have thought that you were on drugs,” Udine said. “It's a testament to what the Panther organization has done in Broward County and in South Florida.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice lifts the Stanley Cup trophy after Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers defeated the Oilers 2-1 (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

FILE -Fans wait in line to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, at a watch party at Amerant Bank Arena, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, FiIe)