Sat May 17 22:35:48 2008

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Late rally pushes Marlins over Royals

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Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Wes Helms and Mike Jacobs each launched home runs during a five-run seventh inning, leading Florida over Kansas City, 7-3, in the middle contest of a three-game interleague set.

Jacobs finished 2-for-4 and drove in three runs for the Marlins, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Jorge Cantu accounted for the other run with an RBI single.

Logan Kensing (3-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to notch the win for starter Scott Olsen, who allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings on the hill.

Jose Guillen drove in two and Billy Butler one for the Royals, whose five-game win streak came to an end.

Brian Bannister (4-5) was tagged with the loss after giving up seven hits and six runs over 6 1/3 frames.

Bannister was in good position to pick up a win until the seventh, ahead by a run. However, Florida used a powerful display of offense to take control of the game.

Luis Gonzalez led off with a single, and Mike Rabelo followed with a walk. Helms pinch-hit in the ninth spot for Kensing and unloaded a three-run homer over the scoreboard in left to give Florida a 5-3 lead.

The KC starter retired Alfredo Amezaga but allowed a single to Jeremy Hermida and was taken out for Ron Mahay. Mahay struck out Hanley Ramirez but surrendered a two-run homer to Jacobs which put the Marlins up by four.

Matt Lindstrom took care of the Royals in the eighth, and Kevin Gregg allowed a Mark Grudzielanek single in the ninth before inducing a game-ending fly out from Alex Gordon.

Guillen's two-run double in the third broke the scoreless tie and put the Royals ahead in the third, but the Marlins struck back with a pair in the fourth.

Ramirez walked with one out, and scored when Jacobs tripled. The track of the ball caused Royals' center fielder Joey Gathright and right fielder David DeJesus to collide at the wall, but both players stayed in the game. After Dan Uggla fouled out, Cantu singled to score Jacobs.

Butler's RBI double in the sixth pushed Kansas City ahead, but the lead was ultimately short-lived.

Game Notes

It was Helms' sixth career pinch-hit longball...The Royals dropped their first game of the season when leading after six innings, falling to 17-1...The teams previously met in 2002 and 2007, with both series played in Kansas City...The Royals had won three of the last four meetings coming in...Bannister fell to 0-5 in night games this season, allowing 25 earned runs in 27 2/3 innings...Florida improved to 20-2 this season when allowing four runs or less...Prior to the game, the Marlins signed Ramirez to a six-year contract extension worth up to $70 million.