The Phillies overcame an early deficit and nursed a one-run lead through the final seven innings to beat the Florida Marlins 4-3 Saturday.

Tom Gordon pitched around a one-out double in the ninth, retiring Dan Uggla on a fly ball that Shane Victorino caught in deep centre field for the final out.

Philadelphia began the day trailing NL West co-leaders Los Angeles and San Diego by two games in the wild-card race with two to go, meaning a loss would eliminate the Phillies. They still faced elimination if both the Dodgers and Padres won later Saturday.

Miguel Cabrera and Josh Willingham hit back-to-back homers in the first inning for Florida. But Ryan Howard's RBI single put the Phillies ahead to stay in the third, and five relievers combined to shut out the Marlins over the final 7 1-3 innings.

Because he faced a must-win situation, Phils manager Charlie Manuel pulled starter Randy Wolf after only 1 2-3 innings. Wolf gave up five hits and departed with the score 3-all.

Ryan Madson (11-9) pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings. Gordon got his 34th save in 39 chances.

Scott Olsen (12-10) allowed four runs in six innings and lost to the Phils for the third time this year. Philadelphia improved to 13-5 against Florida.

The Marlins were in the wild-card chase themselves less than two weeks ago, but they've lost 13 of their past 17 games. Florida hasn't won a series since Anibal Sanchez pitched a no-hitter Sept. 6 against Arizona.

Victorino's hustle helped the Phils take the lead. He legged out a double to start the third, then came home on a one-out single to short right field by Howard.

Second baseman Uggla fielded the ball several steps behind the dirt, but his throw was wide to Olsen covering first, and Victorino came home without a play.

Howard also was hit by a pitch, walked twice and struck out to remain at 58 home runs.

The Phils scored three times in the second. Howard walked, Jeff Conine singled and Mike Lieberthal singled home a run. Both runners moved up on a poor throw home, then scored on Abraham Nunez's single.

Florida's Matt Treanor hit his first career triple in the second and scored on a single by Olsen to make it 3-3.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins made a fine defensive play in the fourth to preserve the Phils' lead. With runners at second and third and two out, Uggla hit a sharp grounder that deflected off Madson to Rollins, who reacted quickly and threw to first for the out.

Cabrera hit into a double play to end the seventh and finished 1-for-4, dropping his average to .340. NL batting leader Freddy Sanchez of Pittsburgh went into Saturday's night game against Cincinnati batting .345.

On Sunday the Phils will face Dontrelle Willis, who threw a three-hit shutout against them Sept. 10.

Notes: The start of the game was delayed 28 minutes by rain. ... Cabrera, Willingham and Uggla are tied for the Florida lead in homers with 26 apiece. ... Cabrera improved to 10-for-19 lifetime (.526) against Wolf. ... C Lieberthal left the game in the fourth inning with a right groin strain.