Ryan Howard's two-run single in the top of the ninth inning erased a deficit and lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-6 road victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday afternoon, putting a damper on Canada Day for the home team.

Shane Victorino had three hits and two RBIs while Ben Francisco also drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which has won 14 of its last 19 games.

Jose Bautista belted a two-run homer - his league-leading 25th of the season - in the seventh to give Toronto a 6-5 lead. But closer Frank Francisco (1-4) was unable to hold it as he walked leadoff hitter Placido Polanco and yielded a double by Chase Utley before Howard's decisive hit.

Danys Baez (2-3) tossed a perfect eighth and Antonio Bastardo retired the side in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

Eric Thames also hit a two-run shot and Aaron Hill had two hits and scored three runs for Toronto, which had "Canada" on the back of its jerseys instead of players' last names in honor of the national holiday.

Hill had entered the game as a pinch-runner after Yunel Escobar was hit on the left hand by Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick leading off the bottom of the first.