PHILADELPHIA, May 30 (UPI) -- Chris Coste and Chase Utley homered during a seven-run second inning Friday and the Philadelphia Phillies took over the division lead by downing Florida 12-3.
The Phillies moved a half game in front of Florida in the National League East thanks to a long-ball assault that gave them their fifth straight win.
Florida took a 3-0 lead in the first, but Coste tied it with a three-run blast off Mark Hendrickson (7-2) in the second. The Phillies sent 10 men to the plate in the second, during which Shane Victorino had a two-run double and Utley smashed a two-run homer.
Utley leads the majors with 18 home runs. Ryan Howard added a three-run shot during Philadelphia's four-run fourth.
Brett Myers (3-6) recovered from a slow start to get the win, allowing three runs on six hits in eight innings with 11 strikeouts.
