Bats explode as Utley returns

Last night was all about Chase Utley. And while he may have gone 0-for-5 at the dish, his presence was felt in the lineup as the bats woke from their slumber, slugging home ten runs in a 10-3 victory.

It's the first time they've posted double digit runs since a 10-3 victory over the Mets on April 29. It also ended a stretch of nine straight games of three runs scored or less. They went 3-6 over that period.

The bottom of the first last night brought quite a scene at Citizen's Bank Park. After Jimmy Rollins led-off with a single, Utley stepped to the dish in the uncustomary second hole to a standing ovation. There was a clear excitement among Phillies' fans, bringing electricity to the air. Utley got a fastball to hit and ripped it to center, but the defense had him played perfectly.

Placido Polanco finished with a two-run home run, his third home run of the season, and the Phillies never looked back.

The Phils put a seven spot in the board in the third, highlighted by a Jimmy Rollins three-run blast to right, his third of the year, putting the Phillies in front 9-0. With a dominant Cole Hamels on the mound, the game appeared to be wrapped up.

But Cincinnati answered in the fourth when Jay Bruce jacked a three-run shot of his own off the right-field foul pole.

Raul Ibanez's fifth home run of the year, this one to straight away center, got one run back for the Phils and capped the scoring for the ballgame.

Hamels went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Michael Stutes, Antonio Bastardo and Danys Baez each pitched a solid scoreless inning in relief.

Bronson Arroyo on the other hand had by far his worst start of the season. Lasting just 2.2 innings, he allowed nine runs on ten hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Every Phillies' starter had at least one hit, with the exception of Utley. They had six extra base hits: homers from Polanco, Rollins and Ibanez and doubles from Domonic Brown, Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz. Chooch was 3-for-3 with a walk.

Weather permitting, Vance Worley takes the mound tonight against Johnny Cueto.