HAINES CITY, Fla. (AP) _ Jermaine Dye went 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs Friday to lead the Kansas City Royals over the Florida Marlins 9-6.

Dye hit a three-run homer in the third off loser Brad Penny and a solo shot in the sixth off Armando Almanza. Dye also had run-scoring singles in the first and fourth innings.

``That's a real good day,'' Royals manager Tony Muser said.

Dye leads the Royals this spring with a .379 average, seven home runs and 23 RBIs.

Kansas City has won six straight and eight of nine, tying the Mets for Florida's best spring record.

Blake Stein, 3-1 this spring, allowed five runs _ four earned _ and seven hits in five innings. Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run homer off him in the fourth.

``I was getting the ball away to righties and up,'' Stein said. ``Righties gave me a little bit of fits. I was forcing the ball to go over there, instead of letting it go there.

``I worked in the bullpen after I came out and (pitching coach) Brent Strom showed me what I was doing and got me back in line.''

Roberto Hernandez worked a perfect ninth for the save. He hasn't allowed a hit or walk in his last three relief appearances.

Notes: OF Mark Quinn was held out of the Royals lineup with a hamstring pull.