Phillies pummel Pirates, 10-3

The Phillies' offense Friday night was nothing like their recent production, which had generated so much trade speculation.

Then they made the trade they hope will produce more slugfests to match Friday's 10-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Coveted Houston Astros all-star outfielder Hunter Pence was dealt to the Phillies on Friday night for four minor-leaguers.

After facing Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum and managing a total of just two runs in consecutive losses to San Franciso, the Phils came through for Roy Halladay on Friday by scoring eight runs in the first two innings.

Halladay (13-4) pitched seven shutout innings of one-hit ball, striking out five and walking none.

Chase Utley was a double away from hitting for the cycle, going 3 for 5 with four RBIs. After getting three hits his first three at-bats, Utley struck out the next two times.

Jimmy Rollins belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

The Phillies had entered the game having lost two straight at home for only the second time this year. The last time they lost more than two in a row at Citizens Bank Park was Aug. 23-26, when they were swept in four home games by . . . the Astros.

This time, they were facing one of the National League's most improved pitchers, Pirates righthander Charlie Morton. Last year, Morton was 2-12 with a 7.47 ERA. He entered Friday's game 8-5 with a 3.69 ERA.

Included this year was a 6-3 win over the Phillies on June 4, when Morton allowed two earned runs over seven innings.

On Friday, he reverted to his 2010 form. Morton lasted just four innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits. He walked four and struck out four, throwing 103 pitches - 63 for strikes.

The Pirates knew this wasn't their night when they literally took a wrong turn during their first at-bat. Leadoff hitter Xavier Paul reached base on Utley's throwing error but kept running toward second even though the ball didn't stray far. He was easily tagged out, and things went south for the Bucs from there.

The Phillies countered with three runs in the first on an RBI triple by Utley, an RBI double by Ryan Howard, and an RBI single by Raul Ibanez.

In the second inning, the Phillies extended the lead to 8-0. The first run scored on an error. Utley then smacked a three-run home run on a 2-0 fastball. Wilson Valdez later drew a bases-loaded walk.

Utley's home run was the 185th of his career; he tied Johnny Callison for 10th on the Phillies' all-time list.

It was only the fifth home run served up by Morton, who has thrown 1111/3 innings.

After three innings, Utley was three-quarters of the way to a cycle with a triple, homer, and single.

Halladay held the Pirates hitless for the first three innings, but Paul led off the fourth with a single.

After that, the cycle watch was on.