PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Pinch-hitter Paul Lo Duca’s two-run single in the seventh inning helped the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 Saturday night.

Carlos Delgado, Jeff Conine and Damion Easley each had three hits for Florida, which remained a half-game behind Houston in the NL wild-card race. The Phillies fell 21/2 games behind the Astros.

For the second time in three games, Philadelphia’s bullpen failed to hold a lead. On Wednesday, Billy Wagner allowed a three-run homer to Craig Biggio with two outs in the ninth inning in an 8-6 loss to Houston.

The Marlins rallied against Ryan Madson (6-5) in the seventh. Delgado was hit by a pitch with one out and Conine singled. Easley’s RBI single to center cut it to 6-5. After Juan Pierre was intentionally walked to load the bases, pinch-hitter Juan Encarnacion struck out.

But Lo Duca, who wasn’t in the starting lineup for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury, drove in Conine and Easley with a single to left.

Chris Resop (1-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for his first win in the majors. He was recalled from Double-A Carolina earlier in the day.

Todd Jones got the final four outs for his 36th save in 38 chances, and 26th in a row. He retired Pat Burrell on a grounder to third with two runners on to end the eighth.

After Florida scored twice to take a 4-3 lead in the fifth against Brett Myers, the Phillies came back with three runs in their half of the inning.

Chase Utley led off with a homer deep into the right-center field seats off Randy Messenger. After Ryan Howard walked, Mike Lieberthal lined a 1-0 pitch over the left-center field wall to give the Phillies a 6-4 lead.

Bobby Abreu’s RBI single in the first gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Myers helped himself with a bloop single in the second that made it 2-0, and Jimmy Rollins followed with an RBI double, giving Philadelphia a 3-0 lead.

Myers allowed four runs and 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings, his second-shortest outing this season. The right-hander, who was outstanding early in the season, has struggled lately. He’s 3-2 with a 4.80 ERA in his last eight starts.

Marlins rookie starter Jason Vargas lasted just two innings, giving up three runs and five hits.

Notes: Rollins had two doubles and a triple, extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. He was picked off first base in the eighth. … Marlins RHP Josh Johnson pitched two scoreless innings in his major league debut. … Marlins rookie RF Jeremy Hermida struck out four times. … Utley has 22 homers and 84 RBIs, despite being platooned in the first two months. … Conine is hitting .522 (12-for-23) against the Phillies this season. … Burrell went 0-for-4 and stranded eight runners.

AP-ES-09-10-05 2229EDT