Marlins Pump Up With Ross, Sanchez

There’s something about the Cody Ross-Anibal Sanchez duo that works for the surging Florida Marlins.

Ross tied Florida records with three home runs and seven runs batted in, while Sanchez -- in his first start since pitching a no-hitter last week -- gave up four hits and struck out eight in seven innings as the Marlins beat the New York Mets, 16-5, Monday night.

Dan Uggla was a career-best five for five with three runs scored, Ross had four hits and Miguel Cabrera took over the National Leauge batting lead and drove in three runs for the Marlins, who had a season-high 20 hits and set a club record with five homers.

“A good day all around,” Marlins Manager Joe Girardi said.

Ross, who began the season with the Dodgers, has 12 home runs this season, 10 with Florida -- and seven in games started by Sanchez.

“Anibal told me a couple days ago, ‘Man, every time I pitch, you hit a home run,’ ” Ross said. “After the first one I hit tonight, I thought about it and kind of chuckled. He doesn’t need that much run support. He hasn’t lately. But anytime we can go out there and score like that against one of the best teams in the major leagues, it’s huge.”

The Marlins, 17-5 since Aug. 20, moved to within two games of San Diego in the NL wild-card race.

Carlos Beltran hit his 40th home run and Cliff Floyd added a two-run drive for the Mets, whose magic number for clinching the NL East title for the first time since 1988 remained at four.

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ROUNDUP

at St. Louis 7, Houston 0: Chris Carpenter threw a six-hitter and Ronnie Belliard had four RBIs. Juan Encarnacion had two RBIs for the Cardinals, who ended a three-game skid and lead the NL Central by five games over Cincinnati. Carpenter (14-6) is 4-0 with a 2.27 earned-run average in his last seven starts.

Washington 7, at Arizona 6: Jose Vidro drove in four runs and Nick Johnson hit a two-run single for the Nationals. Vidro drew a bases-loaded walk from Luis Vizcaino (4-5) to put the Nationals ahead in the ninth inning. Washington won for only the second time in its last 13 road games.

Chicago 8, at Atlanta 3: Derrek Lee homered twice and Jacque Jones hit a three-run shot as the Cubs avoided a sweep with only their fourth win in 22 games.

at Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 3: Zach Duke struck out a season-high seven in eight innings and Chris Duffy had a tiebreaking, two-run single.