(Best E Casino) - Lefty Mark Hendrickson tries to make it three victories in a row tonight when the Florida Marlins visit the Philadelphia Phillies in the first of a three-game series between the top two teams in the National League East at Citizens Bank Park.

The Marlins enter the series with a half-game advantage over the Phillies, who are another 1 1/2 games up on third-place Atlanta and 3 1/2 ahead of the fourth- place New York Mets in the top-heavy East standings.

Hendrickson, a 33-year-old Washington native, was last beaten on May 13 at Cincinnati when he gave up eight hits and four runs in five innings of work.

He's pitched 10 innings over two starts since, allowing 13 hits and six runs while recording 12 strikeouts in an 3-2 defeat of Arizona on May 20 and an 8-6 win against San Francisco on May 25.

Hendrickson is 0-1 in two career appearances - one start - against the Phillies, allowing 12 hits and seven runs in five innings.

For Philadelphia, right-hander Brett Myers looks to end a slump that's lasted since mid-April.

The 27-year-old product of Jacksonville, Florida was 2-1 on the season after a 10-2 victory over Houston on April 17, but has since gone 0-5 with two no- decisions in seven starts.

He was beaten, 4-3, by Houston on May 24 after allowing eight hits and four runs in six innings.

During the entire winless stretch, Myers has allowed 59 hits and 31 earned runs in 40 1/3 innings.

He is 5-7 with two saves in 24 lifetime appearances against the Marlins, including 18 starts.

On Wednesday in New York, Fernando Tatis' two-run double down the left field line in the bottom of the 12th inning capped a dramatic, 7-6 victory for the Mets over the NL-East leading Marlins at Shea Stadium.

The Marlins mustered only five hits, but home runs by Mike Rabelo, Alfredo Amezaga and two by Cody Ross kept the squad in the game. Ross finished with four RBI for Florida, which has dropped back-to-back games following a three- game win streak.

Florida starter Scott Olsen allowed four runs on six hits through five innings in a no decision. Justin Miller (1-2) was charged with the loss after recording just one out in the 12th frame.

In Philadelphia on Wednesday, Chase Utley sparked a five-run fifth inning with his major league-leading 17th home run, a three-run shot, and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 6-1 triumph at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia starter Adam Eaton (1-3) allowed only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings.

Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin combined to toss three innings of scoreless relief.

Shane Victorino legged out three infield hits, scored twice and stole two bases for Philadelphia, which won its fourth straight and seven in its last nine overall. Geoff Jenkins added a two-run homer.

These teams split 18 matchups last season with Philly winning six of nine at home in the series.