Upton, Garland lead Diamondbacks over Marlins

PHOENIX — All-Star Justin Upton matched a career high with four hits, Jon Garland allowed one run in eight innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Florida Marlins 5-1 on Saturday night.

Upton had three singles, a triple and an RBI, and Miguel Montero added a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who won for the seventh time in eight games.

With one day to go until the All-Star break, the second-place Marlins fell four games behind Philadelphia in the NL East.

Garland (5-8) had gone nine starts without a victory and won for the first time since May 19 — also against Florida. He gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out five in his longest start.

The Diamondbacks entered 8-16 against left-handed starters but jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first against Sean West (3-4).

With the bases loaded and one out, Montero knocked in two runs with a ground-rule double down the right-field line. Montero, who has seen more playing time since starter Chris Snyder went on the disabled list with a back injury, extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Gerardo Parra followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop.

Arizona added another run in the second on Upton’s two-out single.

After Florida cut the lead to 4-1 on Jorge Cantu’s two-out single in the third, the Diamondbacks got the run back in the fifth, when Upton tripled and scored on Parra’s fielder’s choice grounder.

West, who opened the season at Double-A Jacksonville, lasted 4 2-3 innings in his 10th big league start. He allowed five runs and nine hits, walked four and struck out one.

NOTES: Arizona OF Conor Jackson, out since May 12 with pneumonia, has worked out four straight days, and manager A.J. Hinch is optimistic Jackson will return this season. “There’s baseball left in Conor Jackson for ‘09,” Hinch said. … Marlins RHP Josh Johnson will start the series finale. Arizona handed Johnson (7-2) one of his two losses on May 19 in Miami. … West singled in the third for his first career hit. … Arizona improved to 9-7 against NL East clubs. The Diamondbacks have losing records against the other two divisions and the American League.