Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Jorge Cantu was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a three-run homer as the Florida Marlins held on for a 10-8 victory over Philadelphia in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Mike Jacobs added a two-run shot, while Dan Uggla had three hits and a pair of RBI to help the Marlins snap a three-game slide. Cody Ross also went deep for the victors.

Marlins starter Chris Volstad was taken out after the third inning. He allowed just one run on two hits but took two come-backers off his leg and left for precautionary reasons. Kevin Gregg (7-8) was credited with the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

Kyle Kendrick (11-9), who entered the game with a 9.14 earned-run average over his previous five starts, was once again shelled for seven runs on six hits and two walks, recording a mere four outs in defeat.

"I was disappointed," Kendrick said of his less-than-stellar start. "Anytime you have an outing like that you have to try and fight through it."

Ryan Howard smacked a two-run round-tripper, with Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs tallying two RBI apiece for the Phillies, who had won three of four but fell 2 1/2 games behind New York for the NL East lead after the Mets topped Washington Tuesday. Philadelphia is also back three games in the wild card race, which is currently led by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Trailing by as many as eight runs, the Phillies battled back to make it a two- run game before bringing the heart of the lineup to the plate in the ninth inning.

But, Arthur Rhodes induced Chase Utley to pop up in foul territory and fanned Howard swinging. Matt Lindstrom then came on the face Pat Burrell, who flied out weakly to center to end the game and finish off Lindstrom's second save of the year.

With one gone in the first, Kendrick gave up a walk between a pair of singles to load the bases. Uggla ripped a single to right to score two, and Josh Willingham flew out deep to center to plate another for a quick 3-0 edge.

Jayson Werth got the Phils on the board in the bottom half, registering a single off the leg of Volstad, stealing second and third and scoring on Utley's groundout to short.

The visitors got that run back and more in the second. Consecutive doubles by Volstad and Hanley Ramirez scored a run, and, following another walk, Cantu smashed a three-run no-doubter to left, ending Kendrick's forgettable outing.

"We just got to try to work through it," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of struggling staff. "We only have so many options for our starters."

A two-run homer by Jacobs in the fourth -- his 32nd of the year -- put Florida ahead 9-1 before the Phillies began chipping away.

Howard went deep to straightaway center with one on in the bottom of the fourth, and Victorino followed Burrell's triple off the right-field wall with an RBI groundout.

Ross led off the away fifth with a homer, but a four-run sixth brought Philly back within striking distance. The first five hitters reached base with De La Cruz exiting after Victorino's run-scoring single.

Doug Waechter was greeted by Dobbs' two-run double and Matt Stairs' pinch-hit RBI single, but managed to get out of the inning with a 10-8 lead.

Game Notes

Cantu's homer was his 24th of the season, while Ross his 21st. Howard's blast extended his MLB-leading total to 41...The Marlins remain 8 1/2 off the pace in the NL East with 17 games to play...The Marlins hold an 8-6 edge in the season series with the Phillies...Philadelphia was 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, stranding six runners. Florida was 4-for-5 with RISP, leaving five on base...Phillies reliever J.A. Happ allowed three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.