Lynne Sladky/Associated Press Jose Castillo pirouettes at second base after forcing out the Florida Marlins' Josh Willingham and throwing to first to complete a double play in the fourth inning last night. Click photo for larger image. Today Matchup: Pirates (Kip Wells 0-4) vs. Florida (Ricky Nolasco 7-6), Dolphin Stadium. When: 6:05 p.m. TV/radio: FSN Pittsburgh/KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. Related articles Pirates Notebook: Team, Casey open to waiting past July 31

MIAMI -- It was not just that the Pirates struck out 11 times against Florida starter Scott Olsen.

Nor that they were fanned four more times by the bullpen for a season-high total of 15.

There would be a whiff in the field, too, one that would prove the most painful putdown of a 4-1 loss to the Marlins last night at Dolphin Stadium.

"One of those nights," Pirates starter Paul Maholm said. "A lot of it was unfortunate, the way it turned out."

That started with Olsen, a 22-year-old left-hander who is one of a trio of fresh gems in Florida's all-young rotation. In limiting the Pirates to one unearned run in his 6 2/3 innings, he recorded the most strikeouts of any Marlins rookie since Josh Beckett on the same date three years ago.

"He threw a lot of strikes early in the count," manager Jim Tracy said. "We had just a couple of opportunities against him."

"Give him credit," shortstop Jack Wilson said. "Anytime you strike out that many big-league hitters, it's impressive."

Olsen's previous high for strikeouts was nine, that coming May 13 at PNC Park. He recalled studying video of that one in the afternoon and noticing that the Pirates seemed susceptible to the slider, so he pounded it relentlessly after aggressively finding early strikes on fastballs.

"When I would get into trouble, I would go to it," Olsen said. "I was able to locate it pretty much wherever I wanted."

Trouble? He threw 75 of 114 pitches for strikes, issued his only two walks to Jason Bay, and all six of the Pirates' hits against him were singles.

The only significant pressure applied to Olsen came in the opening inning, when Jose Bautista singled off a 12-pitch leadoff at-bat, and Olsen needed 15 more to get out of the first inning and strand two runners.

Rather than get rattled, though, he heated up and struck out six consecutive batters from the first through third innings.

On top of all that, he acted as if it were no big deal afterward.

"They had some hits," Olsen said. "It's not like I dominated them."

The Pirates had misses in other regards, too.

The most glaring came with Florida ahead, 2-1, and the first two Marlins aboard in the fourth inning. Maholm got the desired result from his pitch to Josh Willingham, a ground ball right at second baseman Jose Castillo, who planted, waited for it and ...

It zipped through his legs into shallow center field.

One run scored, and another soon followed when Maholm got the next batter to ground into a double play that was completed.

Castillo blamed the error, his team-leading 13th, on an infield still soaked from a daylong rain.

"It was really quick," he said of the ball coming at him. "Faster than I expected."

Those around him absolved him.

"We missed a double-play chance," Tracy said. "It happened, and that's all I'm going to say about it."

"Sometimes, you make errors," Maholm said. "Casty makes that play every time. Besides, that play didn't cost us the game."

Maholm had a near-miss that he wished were a miss.

Florida opened the scoring on Cody Ross' two-run home run in the first. With two outs and a full count, he reached down for a changeup he probably should have ignored and uppercutted it over the fence in left-center.

"It was going down in the dirt," Maholm said. "What are you going to do?"

Half of Ross' six home runs this season have come against the Pirates.

Their lone run was a cheap one in the fourth. With Bay aboard, Jose Hernandez singled into center, where Ross flubbed it and allowed each man to take an extra base. Castillo's groundout cut Florida's lead to 2-1.

Three of the Marlins' four runs would be charged to Maholm, who exited after six innings with a 4-1 deficit.

He did not get much help, from the defense or offense, which has supported him with three or fewer runs in nine of his 10 road starts. But that does little to detract from what are some glum numbers for Maholm in his first full season:

He is 3-9 through 20 starts and has won once in two months.

His opponents' .394 on-base percentage is highest of any starter in the National League.

His 55 walks -- he had only one last night -- rank third.

"I thought he did a good job," Tracy said. "Both starters pitched well."

"I went out there and kept us in the game," Maholm said. "Things just didn't work out."

The Pirates are 5-3 since the All-Star break after splitting the first half of this four-game set.