(Best E Casino) - An important National League East series kicks off tonight in South Philadelphia, where the division-leading Phillies welcome the Florida Marlins to town for three consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins in the division standings and have won two straight and seven of their last eight games. After losing the opener of a three-game series to St. Louis on Friday, the Phillies responded with back-to-back wins and handed the Cardinals a 5-4 loss Sunday night at Busch Stadium.

Shane Victorino hit a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning as the Phillies rallied late. Chase Utley added a solo home run and scored twice, while Pat Burrell also drove in a run for Philadelphia.

Brett Myers started on the mound for the Phils and gave up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Chad Durbin posted the win despite giving up a run in his one-plus inning of work, while Brad Lidge picked up his 28th save in as many opportunities despite a shaky ninth inning.

If Jamie Moyer's career mark against Florida means anything, then the Phillies should be in good shape on Tuesday. Moyer will take the hill tonight and is a perfect 10-0 with a 3.03 earned run average in 10 career starts against the Marlins, while holding them to a .213 batting average. He is 3-0 against Florida in the 2008 season series.

Moyer is also unbeaten over his last five outings (3-0) and defeated Washington his last time out on Wednesday. The veteran left-hander allowed three runs and six hits in six innings of an 8-5 win to improve to 10-6 with a 3.79 earned run average in 22 starts this season.

Florida just split a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies and suffered a 3-2 setback on Sunday. Mike Jacobs homered and Josh Willingham drove in a run for Florida, which has split its last eight games.

Marlins starter Scott Olsen yielded only an infield single while striking out six and walking two over six innings of work. Joe Nelson absorbed the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in his 1 2/3 innings.

Florida's Josh Johnson will make his fifth start of the summer on Tuesday and is 1-0 with a 4.18 earned run average. Johnson posted his first win of the season his last time out on Wednesday versus the New York Mets, as he surrendered four runs in 6 2/3 frames for the victory in a 7-5 decision.

The righty is 1-1 with a 4.64 ERA in five career games, three of which have been starts, against the Phillies.

Florida has won five of the nine matchups with Philadelphia this season, but dropped two of three meetings in South Philly from May 30-June 1.