MLB: Florida 8, Houston 1

MIAMI, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- John Baker had three hits and four RBI Thursday, leading Florida to an 8-1 whipping of Houston.

The Marlins, making a remarkable late-season run that has them on the edge of playoff contention, won their eighth straight game. Florida moved to within 5 1/2 games of the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies and is within five games of the New York Mets in the wild card race.

Florida beings a critical three-game series with Philadelphia on Friday.

Houston, meanwhile, lost its fifth straight game since it was forced to take two unscheduled days off because of Hurricane Ike. The Astros are also five games behind the Mets.

Scott Olsen (8-10) allowed a run on three hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts to get the win. The loss went to Alberto Arias (1-1), who went just 2 2/3 innings.

Baker singled in two runs in the second to put the Marlins in front, doubled home another run in the fourth and had an RBI double in the sixth.