The Phillies averted elimination from the NL wild-card race for an hour by beating the Florida Marlins 4-3. But subsequent victories by the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres quashed Philadelphia's hopes of reaching the post-season for the first time since 1993.

The results left Philadelphia trailing the Dodgers and Padres by two games with one to play.

``We just didn't win enough,'' manager Charlie Manuel said.

His team drew small consolation from winning Saturday, overcoming an early deficit and nursing a one-run lead through the final seven innings.

Tom Gordon pitched around a one-out double in the ninth, retiring Dan Uggla on a 420-foot fly that Shane Victorino caught in centre field for the final out.

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.

``Somehow, some way, we hung on,'' Manuel said. ``Our bullpen did a heck of a job.''

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

``During the season, we probably would have stayed with him a little longer,'' Manuel said. ``We had to stop them right there.''

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

``Our bullpen was amazing,'' Wolf said. ``They really picked me up. They were superhuman today.''

Scott Olsen (12-10) allowed four runs in six innings and lost to the Phillies for the third time this year.

``They have a balanced lineup _ speed at the top, power in the middle, and just about everybody's hitting .300 or better,'' Olsen said. ``It's hard to get those guys out.''

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.

If not for a 5-13 record against Philadelphia _ including losses the past two days _ the Marlins would be above .500.

``It's not about knocking a team out of the playoffs,'' Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. ``It's about proving to teams that you can beat them, and we haven't done that against the Phillies. We're going to have to figure them out, because we're going to be in the same division with them again next year.''

Victorino's hustle put the Phillies ahead for good. 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.

``That's just the way I play the game,'' Victorino said. ``I'm always going to hustle.''

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

``It's rough,'' he said. ``Everybody has been real careful with their pitches.''

The Phillies 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-all.

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.

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 in the fourth inning with a right groin strain.