MIAMI -- Runs were at a premium throughout the Marlins' four-game set with the D-backs at Marlins Park. Each of the first three games were decided by one run.
But on Sunday, Giancarlo Stanton's bat propelled the Marlins to .500 for the first time since July 29 as they beat Arizona, 10-3, and secured their third consecutive series win.
The 10 runs were the most the Marlins scored since they beat the Rays, 11-6, on June 5.
 
Stanton homers, drives in 4, Marlins beat D-backs 10-3
 
With four RBIs, Stanton's season total climbed to a National League-best 88, surpassing his career-high of 87 set in 2011.
Stanton and the Marlins wasted no time getting to Arizona's Josh Collmenter. Christian Yelich led off the first with a double and Jeff Baker drew a walk, bringing up Stanton. The slugger hit a towering home run into left field that landed in the D-backs' bullpen for an early 3-0 cushion.
Stanton drove in the first run of the Marlins' seventh inning after Yelich, who'd reached third on an error and a stolen base, led off the inning with his third hit of the afternoon.
The scoring didn't stop there. The Marlins sent nine to the plate and added five total runs in the frame, thanks to a pair of walks and RBI hits by Marcell Ozuna and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
The Marlins also saw each of their one through eight batters reach base in the game. Garrett Jones put together a 2-for-3 afternoon, including a first-inning solo homer.
The offensive outburst provided plenty of support for starter Tom Koehler to get his ninth win of the season, despite running into trouble in the first and sixth innings.
He needed just seven pitches to get the first two outs of the game, but then he allowed a single and two walks. Pitching coach Chuck Hernandez trotted out to the mound after Koehler threw five straight balls, one of which was a wild pitch.
Whatever message Hernandez gave him must have helped, because Koehler struck out Jake Lamb with the bases loaded to end the inning. He then retired 11 of the next 12 batters before giving up two runs in the sixth. Koehler struck out seven batters and walked two through six innings.
The Marlins have won seven of their last 10 games, and the .500 threshold they reached Sunday is pivotal for them if they want to put together a good late-season run. The last time they were above it was on June 20.
Maria Torres / MLB.com
 

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