PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Jimmy Rollins' three-run homer in the seventh inning snapped a tie and the bullpen made the lead stand as the Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-3 victory over the Florida Marlins.
After Rollins' blast broke a 1-1 tie, Florida starter Josh Beckett hit Phillies second baseman Placido Polanco. Both benches emptied, but no punches were thrown.
Beckett (1-2) lost to the Phillies for the second time this season, allowing four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He was not ejected for hitting Polanco, but was pulled from the game.
Polanco has been hit by four pitches this season, the most in the National League.
"If I'm going to hit him (intentionally), I'm going to hit him with the first pitch," Beckett said. "It's stupid with (Jim) Thome, (Bobby) Abreu and (Pat) Burrell coming up."
Armando Almanza struck out Abreu and got Thome to ground out to end the Philadelphia threat, but the damage had been done.
After scoring on an RBI double by Alex Gonzalez in the eighth inning, the Marlins loaded the bases with none out against Phillies closer Jose Mesa in the ninth. Mesa got Todd Hollandsworth to pop out, then surrendered a run on a groundout by Ivan Rodriguez.
Mesa then completed the escape and notched his third save when third baseman David Bell made a fine play on a hard-hit grounder by Gonzalez. Thome completed the play with an excellent scoop at first base.
"Bell made a good play and Thome made a great play," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "It was very tough. It was hit in no-man's land."
Phillies reliever Carlos Silva (2-0) tossed a scoreless seventh inning to earn the victory. Starter Joe Roa, who struggled in his first two outings, pitched five scoreless innings, but did not factor into the decision.
"I know my velocity was back up to where it was in spring training again," Roa said. "I can tell my movement was late and it was not early like my first two starts. I felt real comfortable today and I am glad my team came out on top."
Roa is 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three career appearances against the Marlins, and posted his last win against them on September 12.
With nine wins, the Phillies matched their total from last April.
"It is always important to get off to a good start and I think it is even more so since we have a new team around," Rollins said. "I guess you can say a little different chemistry and we have come together as a team to find some wins and doing that early gives you a lot more confidence."
Philadelphia is tied with Montreal atop the National League East. The Phillies were in last place when they got their ninth win last season.
