Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard homered twice and drove in three, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Jamie Moyer (8-6) tossed seven strong innings, scattering seven hits and allowing only one run with four strikeouts and two walks to pick up the win.

"I got a fair amount of ground balls, in the middle of the count," said Moyer. "They are a good hitting team."

Chase Utley knocked in the other run for the Phillies, who have won back-to- back games after dropping four straight.

Braden Looper (9-7) gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings, with two strikeouts and a walk, to take the loss. Yadier Molina knocked in the sole run for the Cardinals, who have dropped five of seven.

Holding a three-run lead in the ninth with closer Brad Lidge unavailable, the Phils continued with Ryan Madson, who had thrown a perfect eighth inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Rick Ankiel and issued a one-out walk to Chris Duncan, and Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel turned to left-hander J.C. Romero to nail down the win.

Romero got pinch-hitter Aaron Miles to fly out to center, and Brendan Ryan to pop out to shallow right to end the game, picking up his first save of the season.

Howard put the Phils on top in the first when he lined a shot just over the fence in left-center with a runner on first. The Phillies pushed ahead 3-0 when Jimmy Rollins doubled to left-center with one out in the third, and Utley plated him with a double to right.

"We got the lead early, that's always big," said Manuel.

Troy Glaus lined a double to left-center with one out in the fourth, and Molina singled up the middle, driving in Glaus to pull St. Louis within 3-1.

Howard restored the three-run lead for the Phils with a leadoff homer down the line in left in the sixth, his major league-leading 27th.