PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- Despite losing their third straight game, the
NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies still gained something on
Saturday.

Anibal Sanchez pitched seven strong innings to lead the Florida
Marlins to a 4-3 victory over the Phillies, who clinched
home-field advantage in the first round with St. Louis' loss.

The Phillies have lost three straight since clinching their
third consecutive NL East title on Wednesday, and were
eliminated from the possibility of having home-field advantage
throughout the NL playoffs. The Phillies could have clinched
home field with wins in their final two games and two losses by
the Dodgers.

Ryan Howard hit his 45th home run for Philadelphia, which went
7-0 at home in the playoffs last season.

"That was big, that's very important for us," Philadelphia
manager Charlie Manuel said of gaining home field. "I think
we're definitely ready."

Sanchez (4-8) kept Philadelphia's offense quiet, allowing one
run and five hits while striking out three and walking one.

"Sanchez was outstanding," said Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez,
who passed Jack McKeon for most wins by a manager in Marlins
history with his 242nd. "We've got a lot of good players and a
good supporting staff. Hopefully we'll win another one
tomorrow."

Cole Hamels (10-11), last season's World Series MVP, allowed
three runs and three hits while walking two and striking out two
in three innings.

Manuel has not selected his NLDS Game 1 starter, and Hamels is
among the candidates. The left-hander would have to pitch on
three days' rest if selected to open the series, and said he
would be ready.

Still, he said the Phillies have other options such as Cliff
Lee, Joe Blanton and Pedro Martinez to pitch the opener.

"I did it well (last year), it was fun, but you have to look at
who's the best pitcher, who's the hottest pitcher," Hamels said.
"Last year that was me, but this year it's been a struggle."

Florida did all of its damage against Hamels in the first two
innings, before he pitched a scoreless third.

"Every pitch I threw for a strike was hit," Hamels said of the
first two innings. "That third inning I took a deep breath,
calmed down, got ahead of guys and finished them off. I felt
good today and I'll be a lot stronger going into the next game."

Chris Coghlan led off the game with a double and scored on a
double by Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez scored on Jorge Cantu's
sacrifice fly to give Florida a 2-0 lead. The Marlins added a
run in the second on Coghlan's double that scored Ronny Paulino.

Howard hit his 45th home run in the second inning to pull
Philadelphia within 3-1.

It remained that way until Dan Uggla hit an RBI double to left
in the eighth to make it 4-1. Jayson Werth's two-run homer in
the bottom of the inning pulled Philadelphia within 4-3.

Leo Nunez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 26th save in 33
chances.

Coghlan has 110 hits since the All-Star break, tying him with
Joe DiMaggio and Dick Allen for the fifth-most by a rookie after
the break in major league history.

"He keeps swinging the bat and he's also played well in the
field," Gonzalez said. "He's a baseball player."

Ramirez, who leads the NL in batting, left after playing the
field in the third inning with a right knee contusion, and Cantu
departed in the sixth after spraining his right ankle trying to
avoid getting picked off second base.

Gonzalez said X-rays on Cantu were negative, adding that he
didn't know whether Cantu or Ramirez would play Sunday.

Notes: The Phillies recalled left-hander Antonio Bastardo to
the roster before the game. Bastardo, who pitched one scoreless
inning Saturday, made five prior appearances with Philadelphia
this season. ... Philadelphia's Chase Utley went 0 for 2 and is
hitless in his past 15 at-bats. ... Florida has won seven of the
eight against the Phillies in Philadelphia this season.