MLB: Florida 9, Houston 2

MIAMI, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Wes Helms produced the only extra base hit in a six-run sixth inning Thursday and the Florida Marlins used that outburst to run past Houston 9-2.

One night after having a five-game winning streak snapped, the Marlins moved a half game in front of idle Atlanta for second place in the National League East, 4 ½ games behind division-leading Philadelphia.

Sean West (4-4) allowed a run on five hits over six innings to get the win and his victory was all but wrapped up when the Marlins sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth.

Helms doubled in the first run of the inning and Ross Gload then delivered a bases-loaded, RBI single.

Chris Coghlan and Emilio Bonifacio had an RBI each in the frame and Hanley Ramirez finished things off with a two-run base hit.

Mike Hampton (7-10) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings. All of the sixth-inning runs came off Chris Sampson.