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Aug 3, 2010 - 2:32 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Philadelphia (57-48) at Florida (53-52), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Roy Halladay will be hard-pressed to duplicate his last performance in Miami. The Philadelphia Phillies ace may be more concerned with ending his road losing streak.

Halladay returns to the site of his perfect game when he takes the mound in the opener of a three-game series against the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.

Halladay (12-8, 2.21 ERA) threw the 20th perfect game in major league history at Florida on May 29, striking out 11 in a 1-0 win.

That historic performance, however, stands as the right-hander's only win in his last six road starts. He's 1-4 with a 4.68 ERA in that stretch and has lost his last three outings, posting a 6.75 ERA and allowing seven homers.

Halladay may be in position to reverse that trend after winning consecutive home starts. He gave up one run and 11 hits while striking out 18 in 17 innings to beat Colorado and Arizona.

The seven-time All-Star threw a six-hitter in a 7-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Halladay is 2-2 with a 2.12 ERA in five starts against the Marlins (53-52), losing 2-0 in the most recent matchup June 10. He allowed one run and struck out eight in eight innings.

Philadelphia (57-48) may need another strong effort from Halladay with Ryan Howard out for the series opener. The All-Star first baseman left the team to have his injured left ankle examined by the team physician in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, sprained his ankle by stepping awkwardly on second base during Sunday's 6-4, 11-inning win at last-place Washington, as the Phillies avoided a sweep.

"It's just swollen. It's tight, sore. Other than that, it's not too, too bad," Howard said.

Howard is in a 2-for-20 slump over his last six games after batting .372 with five homers and 13 RBIs in his first 11 after the All-Star break.

Philadelphia is already without Chase Utley (sprained right thumb) and Shane Victorino (abdominal strain), who are on the disabled list.

The Phillies have split eight meetings with the Marlins, taking two of three at Sun Life Stadium in May to improve to 11-3 in their last 14 games there.

Florida returns home, where it has won seven of nine, after ending a 4-3 road trip with Sunday's 5-4 loss to San Diego.

Sean West will make his first appearance of the season after he went 8-6 with a 4.79 ERA in 20 starts last year, going 6-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 10 outings at home.

The left-hander, replacing the ineffective Alex Sanabia in the rotation, went 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 11 starts for Triple-A New Orleans.

"He's also started games up here," pitching coach Randy St. Claire told the Marlins' official website. "It's not like this is his first go-round. He's had success up here, and he knows he can do it. You hope this is his second taste and he has that, 'I'm here. This is now. Let's stay here.'"

West allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings of a 6-4 win at Philadelphia on Aug. 8.