MIAMI (AP) — Hanley Ramirez hit a grand slam, and Cody Ross and Dan Uggla each homered as the Florida Marlins cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 11-3 on Thursday.
It was the third grand slam of the season for Ramirez, tying him for the single-season franchise record with Ross (2009), Jeff Conine (2004) and Bobby Bonilla (1997.) Ramirez has 13 RBIs in his last four games.
Leading 7-0 in the eighth, Ramirez hit an 0-1 pitch from reliever Chris Ray over the left-field scoreboard.
Marlins starter Sean West (3-2) scattered four hits over six scoreless innings to notch his third win in his last four starts.
After striking out the side in the first inning, Baltimore starter Rich Hill (3-2) struggled. He gave up six runs and eight hits over 4 1-3 innings.
The Marlins pounded out 17 hits, one shy of their season-high 18 on June 14 at Toronto, and every Marlins position player got at least one hit.
Florida is two games above .500 for the first time since May 10 and has won five straight for the first time since its season-high seven consecutive victories from April 12-19.
The Orioles lost their third consecutive game after winning five in a row coming into the series.
The Marlins took a 2-0 lead when Ross homered over the left-field scoreboard, driving in Uggla, who singled with one out.
Hill’s problems continued in the third. Florida stretched its lead to 3-0 when Ramirez singled in Chris Coghlan, who doubled to open the inning. One out later, Uggla hit his team-leading 15th homer to make it 5-0.
After giving up back-to-back doubles to Ramirez and Jorge Cantu in the fifth, Hill was replaced by Mark Hendrickson with the score 6-0.
The Orioles scored three runs in the ninth off Christopher Leroux on RBI doubles by Greg Zaun and Nick Markakis. Markakis reached base five times with four hits and a walk.
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