Marlins 5, Royals 2
Justin Ruggiano broke out of a lengthy slump with three hits and an RBI as Miami took the rubber game in Kansas City.
Ruggiano, who entered mired in a franchise-worst 0-for-42 slide, ended the hitless streak with a single in the second and got the Marlins on the board with a run-scoring base hit in the fourth. He added a single and scored in a two-run ninth for Miami, which sent the Royals to their first series loss since before the All-Star break.
Salvador Perez and David Lough had RBIs and Ervin Santana allowed a run in six innings for Kansas City, which is 4 1/2 games behind Oakland in the American League wild card race and 7 1/2 behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central. The Royals open a big five-game series at the Tigers on Thursday.
Kansas City entered the seventh with a 2-1 advantage but reliever Tim Collins (2-6) gave up a leadoff double to Koyie Hill and the Marlins got runners to second and third when third baseman Elliot Johnson could not field Christian Yelich's grounder. Donovan Solano and Logan Morrison each followed with RBI groundouts to put Miami on top.
Dan Jennings (2-3) got the win with one scoreless inning and Steve Cishek worked the ninth for his 26th save. Starter Jacob Turner allowed two runs - one earned - in five innings while walking a career-high six and failing to record a strikeout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Royals acquired former Toronto IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio for cash or a player to be named later. ... Kansas City 3B Mike Moustakas sat for the second straight game due to a left calf injury. ... While Kansas City heads to Detroit on Thursday, Miami gets a day off before hosting San Francisco.