ST. LOUIS — Three big swings from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell set the tone. Then the rest of the Philadelphia Phillies joined in the fun.

Utley, Howard and Burrell homered in successive at-bats in the first inning and the Phillies had a season-high 21 hits in a 20-2 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals last night.

"I think that definitely got us going, yeah," manager Charlie Manuel said. "If that don't get you going, I don't guess nothing will."

Kyle Kendrick (6-2) worked seven strong innings and contributed two hits and an RBI, including his first career extra-base hit, to a nine-run fourth. The toughest aspect of the game was staying aggressive on the mound.

"I'm not complaining at all, I love that lead," Kendrick said. "But for me you have to focus a little harder."

Howard went 3 for 5 with two homers and drove in five runs. Carlos Ruiz had four hits and four RBIs and the Phillies scored 20 runs twice in a season for the first time since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 20 runs tied the major league high for the season, set by the Phillies on May 26 at home against the Rockies,

"Did I know that? I know it now," Howard said. "Fun tidbits of information."

The NL East leaders are 10-1 in Kendrick's last 11 starts. They are an NL-best 20-15 on the road and are averaging 7.5 runs in their last 22 games against the Cardinals.

Utley hit his major league-leading 22nd homer, Howard his 16th and Burrell his 17th after Todd Wellemeyer (7-2) got two easy outs to start the game.

Howard added a three-run shot in the sixth off Mark Worrell for his 14th career multihomer game, the second this season.

INTERLEAGUE

Indians 9, Padres 5: Grady Sizemore hit two home runs more than five hours apart and host Cleveland beat San Diego. Sizemore hit the third pitch from San Diego's Josh Banks over the right-field wall for his 15th homer. Two outs later, a summer thunderstorm sent everyone scurrying for cover and delayed play for two hours, 43 minutes. Sizemore homered again in the seventh.

Braves 5, Angels 2: Gregor Blanco was 3 for 4 with two RBI singles and visiting Atlanta won in its first game at the Big A. Atlanta's Jo-Jo Reyes (3-4) allowed two runs and five hits over eight innings. Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, who leads the majors with a .414 average, was scratched from the lineup after being struck under his left eye with a foul ball during batting practice.

REDS 3, RED SOX 1: Jay Bruce and Adam Dunn hit solo homers and Aaron Harang got his first victory in a month, leading host Cincinnati over Boston. Harang (3-9) allowed four hits and one run in seven innings. The Red Sox were in Cincinnati for the first time since the 1975 World Series.

Orioles 9, Pirates 6: Luke Scott homered and Melvin Mora had three hits for host Baltimore, which rallied from a five-run deficit. Pittsburgh got a three-run homer from Jason Michaels in building a 6-1 lead in the third against Brian Burres (5-5).

Mets 7, Rangers 1: Oliver Perez pitched seven stellar innings and drove in two runs for host New York, which gave embattled manager Willie Randolph a much-needed victory. Perez (5-4) gave up one run and three hits to win for the first time since May 18. He struck out eight.

Blue Jays 3, Cubs 2: Scott Rolen and Matt Stairs hit back-to-back home runs and A.J. Burnett won for the first time in four starts as host Toronto snapped Chicago's four-game winning streak. Burnett (6-6) improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Cubs, allowing two runs and four hits in five-plus innings.

Twins 10, Brewers 2: Kevin Slowey pitched eight effective innings and hit a two-run single — his first career RBIs — to lead visiting Minnesota. Slowey (3-6) allowed two runs and five hits. Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla both had three RBIs for the Twins.

White Sox 5, Rockies 4: Juan Uribe tied the game with a two-run single and scored on A.J. Pierzynski's infield hit in a three-run seventh to lift host Chicago. Trailing 4-2 in the seventh, Uribe drove in Jermaine Dye and Nick Swisher with a bases-loaded single and scored from third on Pierzynski's single to shortstop.

Tigers 5, Dodgers 0: Armando Galarraga and Freddy Dolsi combined on a three-hitter, and Marcus Thames and Magglio Ordonez homered for host Detroit in its fourth straight win. Galarraga (6-2) allowed three hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out five. Dolsi retired six straight for his second save.

Yankees 2, Astros 1: Derek Jeter hit a solo homer in the eighth inning off Doug Brocail (2-1) and Joba Chamberlain pitched six strong innings in his first career road start to lead visiting New York. Chamberlain allowed six hits and struck out two in his third career start.

Nationals 7, Mariners 6: Jesus Flores and Ronnie Belliard had two-run hits during a six-run second inning as visiting Washington beat Seattle. Flores hit a two-run double and Belliard had a two-run single as the Nationals roughed up knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for six runs, five hits and two walks in the second.

Athletics 5, Giants 1: Greg Smith won for only the second time in his last nine starts and got his first career hit as visiting Oakland beat its former ace Barry Zito. Smith (4-5) gave up three hits in five innings. Zito (2-10) allowed six hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Rays 7, Marlins 3: Eric Hinske and Dioner Navarro both drove in two runs to lead host Tampa Bay. Andy Sonnanstine (7-3), 0-2 in four starts since last winning at St. Louis on May 16, allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Diamondbacks 1, Royals 0: Chad Tracy homered with one out in the bottom of the 10th off Yasuhiko Tabuta (1-2) to lift host Arizona. Tracy drove an 0-2 pitch into the right-field stands for his first career walkoff homer.