"It was a special moment," Ruiz said

In the opener, Kyle Kendrick pitched more like Halladay usually does, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings to lead the Phillies to an 8-1 victory.

In the nightcap, Halladay allowed four runs on six hits and seven innings and appeared headed for the loss, but Philadelphia scored twice in the ninth to send it to extra innings before Ruiz's game-winner gave the Phillies six straight wins and nine in 11 games.

"Things happen for you when you're going good," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Things definitely work in your favor and they go for you."

On the other hand, the Marlins continued their stunning slide, losing their sixth straight and 16th of 18. Florida has gone from two games back to 10½ of the NL-East leading Phillies in 11 days.

"Up 4-2 in the ninth, you've got to get the win," Florida's Logan Morrison said. "Good teams find a way and we're not a good team right now."

Ryan Howard was hit by reliever Mike Dunn's first pitch of the 10th. Two outs later, Domonic Brown walked and Ruiz laced an 0-1 fastball from Dunn (4-5) past diving shortstop Hanley Ramirez to score Howard.

"(Ruiz) gets big hits because he can catch up to a good fastball," Manuel said. "When they try to throw the ball by him or challenge him, his swing is compact and short."

Ruiz is mostly known for his work behind the plate, and Halladay was glad his catcher got a chance to steal the spotlight.

"He does so much behind the plate and often doesn't get a lot of credit," Halladay said. "For him to have a game-changing moment like that you like to see it. He certainly deserves it."

Added Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez: "We were one out away. We got to Halladay and scored four runs, but we couldn't close out the game."

In the opener, Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer and Wilson Valdez had a three-RBI triple for Philadelphia. Kendrick (4-4) allowed one run and five hits over seven innings.

The Phillies trailed 4-2 entering the ninth in the nightcap, but scored two runs off closer Leo Nunez, who blew his third save in 22 chances. Ruiz singled to right with one out. Pinch-hitter Ross Gload moved Ruiz to second with a single to center, and Gload was replaced by pinch-runner Michael Martinez. Both runners advanced on Rollins' hard groundout that ricocheted off Nunez's leg.

Shane Victorino then lined a 2-1 pitch to center to tie the game at 4. Victorino stole second and went to third on catcher John Buck's throwing error, but Chase Utley flied out to left to send the game into extra innings.

"We had the right guys in the there, but they won the game," Rodriguez said.

Ryan Madson (3-1) pitched a scoreless 10th for the Phillies. The Marlins had two on with two outs in the 10th, but Madson struck out Mike Stanton.

It looked as if the Marlins were going to snap the skid, as Anibal Sanchez outpitched Halladay and Gaby Sanchez homered to stake Florida to the two-run lead entering the ninth. The Marlins finished with six hits but didn't have any over the last six innings.

Anibal Sanchez threw seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out six and walking three.

"We wasted a great outing by Anibal," Rodriguez said.

Sanchez, who has the Marlins' only two wins in the last 18 games, requested to pitch against Halladay and retired his final eight batters and threw a season-high 125 pitches.

"Anibal was great and it was wasted," Morrison said. "It's frustrating."

Halladay had won four straight decisions and was looking to become the first pitcher in the majors with 10 wins, but he gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings. It was just the third time in 15 starts he has allowed four or more earned runs.

The right-hander had eight strikeouts, upping his league-leading total to 114, and has gone at least seven innings in 13 of 15 starts.

He watched the comeback from the trainer's room.

"It was huge," Halladay said. "Anytime you do that, there's going to be a certain amount of confidence that goes with it."

Kendrick has mostly been used as a starter since his rookie year in 2007. He spent most of 2009 in the minors, bounced back to win 11 games in 31 starts a year ago, then was bumped to long relief at the start of this season.

Filling in for injured right-hander Joe Blanton, Kendrick had his sharpest outing of the season.

"He draws a lot of criticism at times, but he's been a winner," Manuel said.

Rollins and Valdez had their big hits in a six-run third inning against Marlins starter Elih Villanueva (0-1). Villanueva threw 92 pitches and lasted three innings in his major league debut for the Marlins. After the game, the Marlins optioned Villanueva to Triple-A New Orleans.

Rollins went deep for the second straight game and had four RBIs.

Kendrick, who was bounced to the pen earlier this year, pitched more than five innings for the first time this season. He allowed Morrison's two-out solo homer in the first, then retired 14 of 15 in one stretch. He allowed four singles and walked none after the homer.

Game notes
The Marlins called up INF Jose Lopez from New Orleans, and he started at second base in the nightcap. ... Phillies LHP Cole Hamels brushed off reporters a day after he left his start with tightness in the middle of his back. "I'm not injured. I'll talk to you guys in five days," he said. ... The Marlins optioned INF Ozzie Martinez to New Orleans and purchased Villanueva's contract. To make room for Villanueva, the Marlins transferred RHP Josh Johnson to the 60-day DL. ... Marlins RHP Edward Mujica left in the seventh with a sprained right wrist and will miss 2-to-3 days, Rodriguez said.