Roy Halladay pitched eight innings and Chase Utley hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

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It was the second straight outstanding outing for Halladay (6-6), who missed 42 games while on the disabled list with a strained lat. He returned July 17 and struggled in his first three starts back, going 0-1 with a 5.82 ERA. He threw seven innings in a 3-0 victory over Arizona on Saturday.

The right-hander matched a season low by allowing just two hits, while striking out eight and walking none. He didn't allow a hit after Jon Jay's two-out single in the third, retiring 16 of his final 17 batters. The only hitter to reach base was Yadier Molina, who got to first after being hit on the left elbow leading off the fifth.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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