(My Sportsbook) - Back to having a slight cushion at the top of the National League East standings, the Florida Marlins turn their attention to Kansas City as they try to close out a three-game interleague set on a positive note this afternoon at Dolphin Stadium.

Wes Helms and Mike Jacobs each connected on home runs during a five-run seventh inning for the Marlins, making it that much easier for the home team to record a 7-3 victory against the Royals on Saturday. Jacobs finished 2- for-4 and drove in three runs for Florida, which snapped a four-game losing streak.

Logan Kensing pitched a scoreless seventh inning to notch the win for starter Scott Olsen, who gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings on the hill.

Jose Guillen drove in two and Billy Butler one for the Royals, resulting in the team's first loss in six games. Starting pitcher Brian Bannister was tagged with the loss after allowing seven hits and six runs over 6 1/3 frames. KC is now two games under .500, yet is one of four teams within two games of first place in the AL Central.

The Royals are set to hand the ball to Zack Greinke this afternoon to close out the series in the Sunshine State. The right-hander, who has yet to earn a decision against the Marlins during his brief career, is already halfway to his career-high for victories in a season.

Greinke, a Florida native himself, last pitched on Tuesday when he held Detroit to just two runs on nine hits over the course of six innings. However, Greinke's ERA actually went up, rising to 1.93 as he failed to earn a decision in what was a 3-2 win for the home team.

As for Florida, it is going with rookie hurler Burke Badenhop. The right- hander is sporting a 1-2 mark at the moment with a 5.97 ERA after giving up three runs on six hits over six innings on Monday versus Cincinnati on the road. The 8-7 setback marked the third loss for the Marlins in the last four starts for Badenhop.

The Marlins continue to be one of the most punishing offensive teams in the National League this season, tied for the lead with 62 home runs in 42 games and sporting a league-best .457 slugging percentage.

In contrast, the Royals have yet to find their collective power stroke this year, placing last in the majors with a mere 21 home runs. And although the Kansas City pitching staff has a 4.31 ERA, the team has managed to log five shutouts through the first 42 games of the season.

The Royals are now 87-108 all-time in interleague play, while the Marlins still own an impressive 106-82 mark in games played against the AL.

Off the field on Saturday the Marlins and shortstop Hanley Ramirez agreed to a six-year contract extension, believed to be worth as much as $70 million, representing the largest contract in club history.

Unlike former Florida stars, Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, who were eventually sent packing, Ramirez, the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, is locked up now through 2014.

To celebrate his good fortune, Ramirez finished Saturday's game with a walk and a run scored, but also struck out three times.