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Marlins double up Astros

Jul 9, 2011 - 5:06 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBI to lead the Marlins past the Astros, 6-3, in the second tilt of a four-game set.

Mike Stanton had a 2-for-3 night with two RBI and Gaby Sanchez added two hits, including a double, and three runs scored for Florida, which has won five of its last seven games.

Javier Vazquez (5-8) gave up just two runs on six hits over seven innings to earn the win. After allowing two runs in the first, Vazquez shut out the Astros over the next six frames.

"I'm staying more aggressive. I'm just pounding the strike zone, and that's what I have to keep doing," said Vazquez.

Leo Nunez picked up his 24th save of the year after retiring the final two batters of the game.

Jeff Keppinger and Brett Wallace had an RBI each and Michael Bourn added two hits and a run scored for Houston, which has dropped seven of its last eight games.

Jordan Lyles (0-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits over six innings.

"It was not a good outing. It didn't go as planned," said Lyles. "I didn't start good, and I didn't finish good."

The Marlins took a 3-2 lead in the third after Sanchez hit a two-out double past a diving Carlos Lee in left and Ramirez followed with a single back up the middle to knock in the run.

Florida added two more in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Logan Morrison drew a walk, forcing in Omar Infante. Stanton followed with a sacrifice fly that carried to the warning track, narrowly missing a grand slam, to drive in the second run of the inning.

The Marlins added another run in seventh after Stanton laced a single to right scoring Sanchez.

Houston scored one more in the ninth after Carlos Corporan roped a single to center knocking in Wallace, who doubled to open the inning. But the Astros couldn't keep the momentum going after Nunez entered with one out in the ninth and he slammed the door shut.

The Astros jumped ahead 2-0 in the first. Bourn beat out a grounder to short stop to lead off the inning and moved to second on a fielder's choice that also allowed Hunter Pence to reach base. Bourn then advanced to third on a Lee fly out, before scoring on a Keppinger bloop single. Wallace followed with an RBI single to right-center.

The Marlins evened the score in the bottom half of the frame after Ramirez blasted a two-run homer. Bryan Peterson led off with a walk before Ramirez sent a fastball over the wall in right-center three batters later.

Florida threatened to put another run on the board in the second with Stanton on third an one out. But when Vazquez flew out to right Stanton was thrown out at home by Pence after attempting to tag up.

Game Notes

Ramirez has raised his batting average 46 points since moving into the cleanup spot in the Marlins batting order...Florida has won four straight games against the Astros at Sun Life Stadium...Florida optioned pitcher Brad Hand to Jacksonville (SL); and recalled pitcher Chris Hatcher...Bourn's infield single was his major league-leading 22nd infield hit of the season...The Astros claimed pitcher Lucas Harrell off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.