Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Roy Halladay threw seven strong innings in his return to Miami while Carlos Ruiz added four hits, as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the Florida Marlins, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
The last time Halladay (13-8) pitched in Miami, May 29, he threw the second perfect game in Phillies history. While he couldn't replicate that feat Tuesday, Halladay got the win with a dominating performance.
In seven innings, the right-hander allowed one run -- on a homer by Dan Uggla -- and five total hits, walked one and struck out nine.
The Phillies were coming off a series loss in Washington and on Tuesday lost another key player, as first baseman Ryan Howard landed on the disabled list with a moderate left ankle sprain.
However, Philadelphia got production from the lower part of its lineup. In addition to Ruiz, who had a home run and double among his four hits, Ben Francisco went 3-for-5, Wilson Valdez was 2-for-4, and Halladay added a two- run single.
The win, combined with Atlanta's loss to the Mets on Tuesday, got the Phillies within two games of the NL East-leading Braves.
Sean West (0-1), who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday, took the loss after allowing five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits and a walk in five innings.
Uggla went 3-for-4 for the Marlins, who were coming off a 4-3 road trip.
Francisco opened the second by slugging a low slider to left for his fourth homer, and Ruiz followed by hitting a first-pitch fastball out to left-center, making it a 2-0 game.
Uggla began the bottom half with his 24th homer of the season, but the Phillies expanded their lead in the fourth. With Francisco on base after a one-out single, Ruiz doubled to center to put runners in scoring position.
After Cody Ransom popped out, West intentionally walked Valdez to get to Halladay, but the strategy backfired, as Halladay singled to the left side to plate two.
Ruiz's RBI single in the fifth pushed the Phillies' lead to 5-1, and a single by Valdez in the seventh tacked on another run.
Halladay, meanwhile, got out of a couple potentially dangerous situations to keep the Marlins in check. Florida had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth before Halladay got Cody Ross to foul out and fanned Mike Stanton.
Then in the seventh, Ross and Stanton hit leadoff singles, but Halladay induced a double-play grounder from Ronny Paulino before getting Hector Luna to fly out.
Chad Durbin threw two shutout innings after Halladay to seal the win.
Over his last three starts, Halladay has given up two earned runs in 24 innings (0.75 ERA), walked two and struck out 27...In a corresponding move to bringing West up, the Marlins designated pitcher Jorge Sosa for assignment