PHILADELPHIA -- Matt Diaz negated Ryan Howard's three-homer performance with what appeared to be a crushing three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. But just when it looked like the Braves would claim a come-from behind victory for the second straight day, closer Bob Wickman suffered his first blown save since June 30.

Shane Victorino's one-out single in the ninth inning off Wickman delivered the Phillies to a dramatic 8-7 win over the Braves in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. Diaz's three-run homer highlighted the four-run ninth that the Braves used to claim a short-lived lead.

"It was a microcosm of our season," Diaz said in reference to the fact that disaster seems to lurk every time the Braves put themselves in what appears to be an opportune situation.

Wickman, who had converted his past 15 save opportunities dating back to his time with the Indians, saw Chris Coste begin the bottom of the ninth with an infield single. Adam LaRoche fielded it and was unable to dive to apply a tag as Coste dove safely into first base.

Two batters later, Randall Simon drew a walk, the first issued by Wickman since July 3. Jimmy Rollins followed with a game-tying single that drew a wild throw from Ryan Langerhans and set the stage for Victorino to deliver his game-winner.

"It was kind of a wacky inning," starter Tim Hudson said. "That first play was kind of wacky. [Wickman's] been lights out for us."

After Howard's three homers off Hudson gave the Phillies a 6-1 lead, all seemed lost for the Braves. But they started the ninth with three straight singles off Ryan Madson, setting the stage for Diaz, who followed LaRoche's RBI groundout with his go-ahead three-run shot into the right-field seats.

Howard, who entered the game with two hits in 11 career at-bats against Hudson, began both the second and sixth innings with solo shots. In between, he touched Hudson for a two-run blast in the third. His Major League-best 52 homers are the most by a player in his second big-league season.

"The kid was locked in," Hudson said. "I made some pretty good pitches. Those first two homers were exactly where I wanted to put them. He's pretty hot right now. He's pretty locked in. You've just got to tip your hat."

Hudson, who allowed two homers to Barry Bonds in Tuesday's win, was charged with six earned runs and six hits in seven innings. Other than the homers he surrendered to Howard, the only damage he suffered came when Victorino followed a Rollins RBI triple with an RBI single in the third.

The Braves, who split Saturday's doubleheader against the Phillies, struggled most of the afternoon against Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer, who allowed three earned runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He surrendered a first-inning solo homer to Edgar Renteria and then allowed the Braves to start their rally with Todd Pratt's two-run homer in the eighth.