Carlos Ruiz broke a tie game with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, as Philadelphia beat Florida 3-2 on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.

The decisive rally started when Ryan Howard faced Florida reliever Ryan Webb and reached on an error by left fielder Logan Morrison. Howard advanced on a single by Ben Francisco and took third on a fielder’s choice. Howard then scored when Ruiz hit the sacrifice fly to center field for his ninth RBI of the season.

Jose Contreras labored through a 22-pitch ninth and put two runners on base before securing his third save. Ryan Madson (1-0) earned the win and Webb (0-2) took the loss, although the winning run was unearned.

Philadelphia scored two runs in the first inning off starter Anibal Sanchez on a home run by Placido Polanco, his first, and an RBI single by Raul Ibanez.

The Marlins tied the game in the sixth with two runs off Cole Hamels. Mike Stanton drove in one on a single to shallow left and Morrison got the other run home on a sacrifice fly to right field. Hamels departed after seven innings, allowing two runs and seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

The victory enabled the Phillies to hold onto first place in the National League East. Florida could have gained a first-place tie had it won.