HOUSTON -- It wasn't how far Giancarlo Stanton swatted the ball that made the difference on Saturday night. It was the placement of the slugger's blistered double that provided the big boost for the Marlins.Stanton's three-run double in the second inning loomed large, as it lifted the Marlins to a 7-3 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.In many ways, how Stanton goes, so go the Marlins.Stanton had gone 33 straight games since July 16 without a multi-RBI game before his bases-clearing double in the second inning. 
The Marlins have now secured a series win in Houston and a successful road trip after taking three of four in Atlanta. They've won six of seven and improved to 50-53 overall.Tom Koehler had a struggle over five innings, yielding nine hits, while striking out two. But the right-hander was able to minimize trouble, allowing three runs. He exited after 71 pitches and his team up by two.Astros right-hander Jarred Cosart overcame a rough start and made it through 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts.Miami was all over Cosart early, scoring five times in the first two innings. The Houston right-hander was at 56 pitches through two frames.The big hit of the four-run second inning was Stanton's two-out knock on a ball scorched just out of shortstop Marwin Gonzalez's reach. Because the ball was hit so hard, it found the gap in left-center, clearing the balls. Christian Yelich slapped an RBI single to left, capping a nine-pitch at-bat, to help set Stanton up with the bases loaded.Yelich walked to open the game, and he scored on Casey McGehee's two-out RBI single to center. McGehee came into the game leading the Majors in batting average with runners in scoring position (.371).Miami's advantage didn't last long.With two outs in the first, Chris Carter singled and Jason Castro connected on a two-run homer to right.Koehler worked out of trouble, and he avoided injury in the third inning when he absorbed a liner off his back by Carter. But on the play, the break went Miami's way. The ball deflected behind second and was caught by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Koehler struck out Castro and Matt Dominguez, working out of the first-and-third, no-out jam.In the fifth inning, the Astros trimmed their deficit to 5-3 on Carter's RBI single, but Jordany Valdespin stretched the Marlins' lead to four in the ninth, providing the power with a two-run homer off former Miami reliever Chad Qualls.Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
The Marlins have now secured a series win in Houston and a successful road trip after taking three of four in Atlanta. They've won six of seven and improved to 50-53 overall.Tom Koehler had a struggle over five innings, yielding nine hits, while striking out two. But the right-hander was able to minimize trouble, allowing three runs. He exited after 71 pitches and his team up by two.Astros right-hander Jarred Cosart overcame a rough start and made it through 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts.Miami was all over Cosart early, scoring five times in the first two innings. The Houston right-hander was at 56 pitches through two frames.The big hit of the four-run second inning was Stanton's two-out knock on a ball scorched just out of shortstop Marwin Gonzalez's reach. Because the ball was hit so hard, it found the gap in left-center, clearing the balls. Christian Yelich slapped an RBI single to left, capping a nine-pitch at-bat, to help set Stanton up with the bases loaded.Yelich walked to open the game, and he scored on Casey McGehee's two-out RBI single to center. McGehee came into the game leading the Majors in batting average with runners in scoring position (.371).Miami's advantage didn't last long.With two outs in the first, Chris Carter singled and Jason Castro connected on a two-run homer to right.Koehler worked out of trouble, and he avoided injury in the third inning when he absorbed a liner off his back by Carter. But on the play, the break went Miami's way. The ball deflected behind second and was caught by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Koehler struck out Castro and Matt Dominguez, working out of the first-and-third, no-out jam.In the fifth inning, the Astros trimmed their deficit to 5-3 on Carter's RBI single, but Jordany Valdespin stretched the Marlins' lead to four in the ninth, providing the power with a two-run homer off former Miami reliever Chad Qualls.Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
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