• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Utley returns, Phils offense explodes in rout of Reds

May 24, 2011 - 5:40 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - A quality start from Cole Hamels and a seven-run third inning highlighted Philadelphia's 10-3 rout of the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a four-game set from Citizens Bank Park.

Hamels (6-2) lasted six innings, allowing three runs and five hits while striking out four.

The seven runs were the most scored in an inning by the Phillies this season. Jimmy Rollins provided a three-run homer in the decisive frame and finished 2- for-5 with two runs scored. Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez also went deep in the contest.

Every starter, with one exception, collected at least one hit. The lone holdout was Chase Utley, who went 0-for-5 in his long-awaited season debut. Nonetheless, his presence spurred the NL East leaders to their most runs in one game since April 29.

"It felt great to get back out there with the guys," Utley said. "The crowd was outstanding as usual, which gave us a big boost. Cole pitched well like he has been and we scored some runs."

Bronson Arroyo (3-5) lasted just 2 2/3 innings to suffer the loss for Cincinnati, which has dropped six straight. Arroyo allowed nine runs on 10 hits in his shortest outing since 2009.

Philadelphia, which has struggled to generate runs of late, took a 2-0 lead in the home half of the first behind a two-run homer from Polanco. Rollins started the frame with a leadoff single. Chase Utley received a standing ovation in his first at bat, but flied out to deep center, before Polanco followed with a home run to left.

Still holding a 2-0 lead, Philadelphia exploded in the third. Ibanez singled home Polanco to make it 3-0 and John Mayberry extended the margin to five with a two-run bloop single over short. Hamels helped himself with an RBI single to right before Rollins deposited a 3-2 changeup deep into the right field stands, giving the Phillies a comfortable 9-0 lead.

"They jumped on us pretty early," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We just can't keep [going to the bullpen that early.]"

Jay Bruce responded in the top of the fourth with a towering three-run homer off the right field foul pole. In addition to his 12th home run of the season, Bruce had two singles to finished 3-for-4. He was the only Cincinnati player to have more than one hit in the contest.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ibanez sealed the final margin with a solo shot to straightaway center.

Michael Stutes, Antonio Bastardo and Danys Baez combined to pitch three perfect innings in relief to deliver the Phillies' third win in their last four games. They are now 11-10 in the month of May after finishing April with a franchise-best 18-8 mark.

Game Notes

Philadelphia has won eight straight over Cincinnati...Entering Monday's game the Phillies hadn't scored more than three runs in a contest since May 13...Arroyo's 2 2/3 innings marked his shortest outing since he gave up nine runs in one inning in a 15-3 loss vs. Milwaukee on May 6, 2009...Utley missed the teams' first 46 games of the season due to right knee tendinitis.