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Todd Pratt tags out Morgan Ensberg trying to score on a Brad Ausmus double in the second. (Pat Sullivan/AP)

The decisive blow came from Jeff Kent off Phillies closer Tim Worrell. Kent, a former teammate of Worrell's in San Francisco, smacked a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, his second blast of the game.

Brad Lidge pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save.

Milton, the Phillies' best pitcher, turned in a strong effort, allowing three runs in six innings. All three runs came on solo homers by Kent, Morgan Ensberg and Carlos Beltran. Milton has allowed 36 homers, the most in the Majors this season.

"I challenge guys a lot and go right at them," Milton said about allowing home runs. "Fortunately, they're solo shots. It's not something you like to get accustomed to."

Felix Rodriguez (2-2) relieved and pitched a scoreless seventh, but walked two hitters in the eighth. Manager Larry Bowa brought in Worrell, who allowed a game-tying single up the middle on the first pitch to Lance Berkman. That brought up Kent.

Questioned as to why he didn't call upon Todd Jones or Roberto Hernandez in the eighth, Bowa said Jones had thrown a lot of pitches lately and Hernandez was battling an upper respiratory infection.

Bowa didn't buy that Rodriguez's blister problem was the reason the righty walked a pair before coming out.

"The blister didn't bother him," said Bowa. "What he was bothered by was the two walks in the eighth."

Milton was trying to become the first Phillie in 105 years to start a season 14-2 since Red Donahue in 1899. He left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh and was in a position to win when the Phillies took the lead. But for the fourth time, the bullpen was unable to preserve a win for Milton, who didn't point any fingers.

"I don't look at it that way," the lefty said. "I look at it as I had five other losses where the offense bailed me out."

Bowa felt his ace lefty deserved the victory after another solid performance.

Eric Milton  /   P
		Born: 08/04/75 Height: 6'3" Weight: 225 lbs Bats: L / Throws: L More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site | Shop

"Yeah, especially after he pitched his butt off to get out of that jam [in the sixth]," said Bowa.

Philadelphia missed a chance to break the game open against Pete Munro in the second when it loaded the bases with no outs. Doug Glanville, celebrating his 34th birthday, grounded into a double play -- scoring one run -- and Todd Pratt struck out.

"We left the bases loaded in the second and stranded [Jimmy] Rollins on third with no outs in the fifth," said Bowa. "That's the way it goes. We haven't gotten it done."

In the third, the Phillies took a 2-1 lead on the first of Bobby Abreu's two run-scoring sacrifice flies. Rollins, who collected two triples, an RBI and scored twice, drew a one-out walk and moved to third on Chase Utley's double, setting up Abreu's first RBI.

After Rollins' first triple of the afternoon, Abreu added his second sacrifice fly to put Philadelphia ahead 3-1, but Houston battled back to tie it in the sixth on Beltran's homer.

Philadelphia regained the lead in the seventh on Rollins' RBI triple, which plated pinch-hitter Lou Collier, who had been plunked by Houston starter Pete Munro.

So after sweeping the Brewers last weekend, the Phillies return home to face Milwaukee on the heels of a sweep by the Astros, but remain optimistic about their postseason chances.

"Until the numbers say you're out of it, it's not the end," said Bowa, whose club is 10 1/2 games behind the Braves in the National League East and trails the Giants by 8 1/2 games for the NL Wild Card after Wednesday's loss. "You have to keep on playing."

His players agreed.

"It was disappointing to win three in a row, then lose three in a row here," said David Bell. "It's been hard to figure out. You want to try to carry that momentum over.

"As long as you still have a chance, it's a lot easier to play like that."

Said Jim Thome: "It's disappointing. We started this trip out good, and it didn't end up that way. There's not much else to say. I think there are a lot of disappointed people because we know we're a better team. It's one of those things where you can't give up."

Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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