MIAMI (AP) _ It was a hit, and not a pitch, that made the difference for A.J. Burnett.

Burnett got his first win in more than a month, igniting a four-run fifth inning with a triple that that propelled the Florida Marlins to a 6-3 victory over the Expos, handing Montreal its fifth straight loss.

``A.J. and Tony (Armas Jr.) were very similar tonight,'' Marlins manager John Boles said. ``The only big thing was we got out of a few jams and Armas didn't.''

Burnett (3-7) allowed two runs _ one earned _ three hits and five walks in 6 2-3 innings to help Florida win for the fourth time in five games. He also struck out seven.

After walking in a run in the third inning, Burnett got Vladimir Guerrero to pop out with the bases loaded.

``He showed a lot of composure,'' said Florida's Mark Kotsay, who tripled and scored twice. ``After he walked Wilton (Guerrero), he went right after Vladimir. That was a big out, the turning point of the game for us.''

Tied at 1 in the fifth, Sandy Martinez doubled off the wall in right-center for Florida. Burnett worked the count full against Armas (7-9) before burning the Expos' drawn-in outfield with a drive to left-center for his first career triple.

``Did you see the brick wall at third base. I just ran into it,'' joked Burnett, who's batting .280 (7-of-25).

Luis Castillo then singled in Burnett to make it 3-1. Kotsay walked and Cliff Floyd greeted reliever Julio Santana with an RBI single. Mike Lowell followed with a run-scoring infield single to make it 5-1.

Burnett was 0-4 with a 7.96 ERA in his last four starts.

``I've been working real hard on my delivery,'' said Burnett, who was on the DL the first 3 1/2 months of the season with a ruptured ligament in his right thumb. ``I'm glad I finished off on a good note.''

Armas allowed five runs, four hits and four walks in 4 1-3 innings, snapping his three-game winning streak. He struck out the first four batters and allowed one hit and a run through four innings.

Armas seemed to unravel after an inside fastball stung his hands while attempting to bunt in the top of the fifth.

``That ball hit my finger, just a pinch. It didn't bother me,'' said Armas, who was on the DL from July 15 to Sept. 3 with a strained rotator cuff. ``I don't know what happened.''

Antonio Alfonseca pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 43rd save in 47 opportunities.

Notes: Florida's Luis Castillo stole two bases, giving him 61. No other Marlins had ever stolen 60. ... Preston Wilson, who didn't start because Boles will not allow him to tie or break Bobby Bonds' dubious single-season strikeout mark, came in for defensive purposes in the eighth and singled in his only at-bat. Wilson kept up his quest to play in every game this season, which Boles does support. ``Preston will play every game. He worked hard and deserves it. If we play 161, he'll play in all of them.'' Wilson has struck out 185 times, four behind Bonds' mark. ... Burnett is the fourth Marlins pitcher to hit a triple. The last was Jesus Sanchez, on July 3, 1998, against the Expos. ... The Marlins may or may not play a make-up game with the Yankees on Monday. It depends on whether the Yankees clinch or not by then. ... Expos LF Andy Tracy, who came out in the first inning after hyperextending his right elbow, will not play the rest of the season. ``They're dropping like flies,'' said Alou.