MLB: Philadelphia 10, Tampa Bay 2

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Ryan Howard had two homers and five RBI Sunday night to lead Philadelphia to a 10-2 win over Tampa Bay and send the Phillies up 3-1 in the World Series.

Howard stroked a three-run homer in the fourth inning and a two-run job in the eighth, when Jayson Werth also had a two-run shot and the Phillies put the game out of reach.

Phillies starter Joe Blanton helped his own cause with his first major league homer and limited the Rays to two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in six-plus innings. Blanton has gone 6-0 -- including two post-season wins -- since the Phillies picked him up from Oakland July 17.

Jimmy Rollins had three hits and scored three runs for Philadelphia.

Carl Crawford and Eric Hinske homered for the Rays only runs.

Andy Sonnanstine took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over four innings.

Phillies' ace Cole Hamels -- 4-0 in the playoffs with a 1.55 ERA -- is scheduled to start Game 5 in Philadelphia Monday. The Rays will counter with Scott Kazmir.

A win Monday night would give the Phillies their second World Series title -- their first since 1980.