Guillen, Greinke lead Royals past Marlins 9-3

Florida Marlins' Robert Andino (11) is out at second base on a hit by teammate Jeremy Hermida (not shown) as Kansas City Royals shortstop Tony Pena, right, of the Dominican Republic, attempts to throw to first during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

MIAMI—Jose Guillen homered and drove in four runs Sunday, and Zack Greinke pitched six innings to help the Kansas City Royals take the rubber game of their series against the Florida Marlins, 9-3.

The Royals won for the sixth time in seven games. Florida remained atop the NL East despite finishing the week with only one victory in six games.

Guillen hit a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the seventh. The left fielder also threw out a runner at the plate.

Guillen finished with eight RBIs in the three-game series. He has batted .500 since May 7, hiking his season average to .245.

Kansas City's nine runs and 14 hits tied season highs.

The Royals built an early 6-0 lead for Greinke (5-1), who left after throwing 94 pitches in 91-degree sunshine. He gave up three runs, matching the most he has allowed since Aug. 4. He also went 2-for-3 with a double and an infield single, hiking his lifetime average to .375 (3-for-8).

Kansas City's Mark Teahen drove in two runs with his second home run of the season. Mike Jacobs hit his 11th homer for Florida.

The Marlins, last in the major leagues in defense, let two runs score in the third on a throwing error by third baseman Jorge Cantu.

Rookie Burke Badenhop (1-3) lasted only three innings. He allowed seven hits and six runs, five earned, and his ERA rose to 6.75.

Hanley Ramirez, who signed a $70 million, six-year contract with Florida on Saturday, ended a streak of 11 consecutive hitless at-bats with a single to start the sixth. He scored on a double by Dan Uggla, and Luis Gonzalez singled with two out, but Guillen threw Uggla out at home to preserve Kansas City's 6-3 lead.

Mark Grudzielanek singled off Logan Kensing to start the seventh, and Guillen homered for an 8-3 lead. Miguel Olivo drove in another run with his second double.

Kansas City scored twice in the first. David DeJesus led off with a single, Alex Gordon singled and Guillen hit a two-run double.

The Royals made it 6-0 in the third. Grudzielanek singled and Gordon walked, and both scored when Cantu made a wild throw after fielding a slow roller hit by Guillen. Teahen followed with a homer.

Notes:@ In the second inning, Uggla became the first player this season to attempt to steal against Greinke. Cantu struck out on the pitch and Uggla was thrown out for an inning-ending double play. ... Uggla went 2-for-4 and is batting .397 in his past 18 games. ... Royals pinch-hitter Matt Tupman singled in the ninth in his major-league debut.