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Phillies pull out victory in ninth

Aaron Rowand ignited the winning rally against the Marlins after Tom Gordon blew another save.

In the clubhouse, all Tom Gordon could do was talk about the Phillies' offense.

And why wouldn't he? The offense had just bailed the closer out in the ninth inning last night at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies used big plays and timely hitting to beat Florida, 6-5, after Gordon had blown his third save attempt of the season, allowing the Marlins to tie the game in the top of the inning.

They won it when catcher Carlos Ruiz, who went 3 for 5, singled with the bases loaded

"Right now, they're carrying us," Gordon said. "The offense has definitely been getting the job done for us."

The 32,331 College Night fans erupted as the players met Ruiz around first base to celebrate a win that keeps hope alive that the Phillies will not endure their fourth consecutive losing record in April.

To prevent that, the Phils must sweep the Marlins in this three-game series and win at Atlanta on Monday.

Last night, they rallied from a 4-3 deficit to take a one-run lead in the eighth inning on home runs by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Rollins' homer was his ninth of the season, tops in the National League.

It looked as if that was the game. All they needed was a clean inning from their closer.

But Gordon (1-1) made it . . . interesting.

In the top of the ninth, he gave up two hits and the run that tied it.

"I've just got to continue to battle," he said.

"It's just a matter of him getting his command better," manager Charlie Manuel said.

Brett Myers had kept the Phillies in the game earlier with another strong effort out of the bullpen. He pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing four hits and striking out four.

"Brett will get some chances," Manuel said. "The more he pitches, the better he's going to get."

Ryan Madson gave up a hit and struck out two in the eighth.

Aaron Rowand extended his hitting streak to 15 games and had four hits in a game for the seventh time in his career.

Rowand, who homered in the second inning, delivered a key hit in the ninth when he singled to right.

"I feel good at the plate," Rowand said. "I'm not going to lie. It's nice to have balls I'm hitting fall in. . . . I've got to take it all in stride. You try to have the same preparation every day and go to work."

Wes Helms followed by dropping a sacrifice bunt that was mishandled by Marlins reliever Randy Messenger. Ruiz then came to the plate and singled to drive in Michael Bourn, who had opened the inning with a walk.

Starter Freddy Garcia went 42/3 innings and allowed seven hits and four earned runs.

He threw 106 pitches, the most for him after starting the season on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.

He gave up two home runs. He loaded the bases in the second, then got a groundout and a strikeout. He gave up a triple in the fourth, then struck out the next two batters to end the inning without any damage.

The Phillies probably wanted to see Garcia last more than five innings - something he has not done this season. But after he loaded the bases in the fifth with two outs, they brought in righthander Antonio Alfonseca.

Alfonseca has been outstanding this season, making seven consecutive scoreless appearances.

That changed last night. He allowed an RBI single by Miguel Olivo and walked in a run to give the Marlins a 4-3 lead.