The Associated Press

MIAMI - Carl Pavano pitched a three-hitter, and Mike Lowell homered for the second straight game to give the Florida Marlins a 4-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Carlos Lee's hitting streak ended at 28 games, a team record and the longest in the majors this season. He was 0-for-4 with a groundout, two strikeouts and a flyout. Lee hit .369 (45-for-122) during the streak.

Pavano (7-2) won his third consecutive start and picked up his second career shutout and first since June 13, 1999. He struck out eight and issued one intentional walk.

Pavano has become Florida's most consistent starter, steadier than World Series MVP Josh Beckett, NL Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis or Brad Penny.

In his last 10 starts, Pavano has gone at least seven innings and allowed three or fewer runs eight times.

Scott Schoeneweis (5-5) lost his third straight start. He allowed 10 hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Lowell snapped an 0-for-28 slump with a solo shot Tuesday night. He hit his 16th homer in the fourth Wednesday, a two-run shot with Luis Castillo aboard that broke a scoreless tie. Castillo doubled to start the inning.

The Marlins made it 4-0 in the fifth on Juan Pierre's sharp single through a drawn-in infield. Alex Gonzalez opened the inning with a double, and Abraham Nunez followed with a walk. Pavano's sacrifice moved them to second and third with one out.

The infield moved onto the grass, hoping to prevent more runs, but Pierre laced a grounder under a diving second baseman Juan Uribe.

Florida loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but Pavano grounded out to end the inning.

Pirates 5, Angels 3

PITTSBURGH - Daryle Ward's three-run homer finished off Pittsburgh's five-run fifth inning, and the Pirates avoided matching their longest losing streak in 36 years.

Despite falling behind 2-0, the Pirates averted their first 10-game losing streak since July 6-15, 1968, or two ballparks ago for them. They also ended a 14-game interleague losing streak against AL West clubs and a six-game home skid, handing the Angels their eighth loss in 11 games.

Jose Mesa struck out Chone Figgins and Adam Kennedy with runners at second and third to end it.

Josh Fogg (4-5) became the first Pirates starting pitcher to win since he beat the Cubs on May 29 - a 15-game stretch that saw Pittsburgh starters go 0-8 - by limiting the Angels to two runs over five innings. The right-hander has won four of five decisions since going 0-4 in his first six starts.

Phillies-Tigers postponed by rain

PHILADELPHIA - Wednesday night's game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader today.

The game was called almost two hours after the scheduled 7:05 p.m. start.

The first game today will begin as scheduled at 1:05 p.m. EDT. The second game is set for 7:35 p.m.

The Phillies' 10-7 victory over Cincinnati on Monday was stopped three times by rain, with delays totaling 3 hours, 54 minutes, and ended at 2:06 a.m. Tuesday.

Detroit's 10-3 victory over the Phillies Tuesday was delayed 1:45 before the start of the game.