PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania: Joe Blanton struck out seven and hit a rare home run while Ryan Howard blasted two homers as Philadelphia routed Tampa 10-2 in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday.

Showing consistent power at the plate for the first time in the 104th World Series, the Phillies pushed the Rays to brink of elimination, taking a 3-1 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship series.

"We got off to a slow start," Howard said. "But we scrapped and found ways to get runs across and get wins. The bats came alive tonight."