After one of the worst homestands in team history (1-8), the Phillies were quite happy to get out of the recently unfriendly confines of Citizens Bank park Tuesday with a 10-1 walloping of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Phillies beat the Rays with timely hitting, homeruns, good defense, smart baserunning, and quality pitching from both the starter and the bullpen, all things they were lacking in their nine game homestand.

The Fightins went up early over their 2008 World Series opponents by tacking on six runs in the second inning. Chase Utley drove in a couple with a double and rookie John Mayberry Jr., up from Triple-A Lehigh to replace the injured Raul Ibanez, hit his third homerun of the season, a three run blast to left.

“That’s huge for us, to score those runs,” said manager Charlie Manuel. “That’s the most runs we’ve scored in a while. Seems like seven or eight don’t get it done, so our guys figured they’d get 10 or 12.”

The Phillies would add another four runs in the fourth to give starter Jamie Moyer a comfortable 10-0 cushion as he cruised to his 251st career victory, tying him with Bob Gibson for 43rd on the all-time wins list. The win puts Moyer just two games behind Carl Hubbell.

Tuesday night’s monster offensive output, just one night removed from two straight sweeps at the hands of inferior American League teams, makes the Phillies’ struggles at home even more perplexing. They have the major’s best road record at 24-9, but the second worst home record at 13-22, just ahead of the lowly Nationals.

Nevertheless, the Phillies stand unequivocably in first place in the National League East, 2.5 games ahead of the flailing New York Mets. The Phillies’ success at the top of the standings is more due to the rest of the division’s mediocrity than the Fightins’ stellar play, but it has allowed them to ride our the recent troubled waters without much lasting damage.

Despite the recent trouble, there are a few bright spots on the horizon. Closer Brad Lidge says that he is ready to return to the team, despite management’s preference that he pitch one more rehab game.

“That’s up to them, but I feel pretty darn good right now,” he said. “I’m not sure I’d necessarily feel better if I had another outing. I don’t think there’s a whole lot more I have to do.

“It went real good. Once again, I didn’t feel anything. It’s real encouraging. I know that results aren’t necessarily what I’m looking for down here. Being able to drive the ball to my location is the most important thing right now. And I feel like I’m able to do that. So that’s a big step for me.”

With Lidge back in the bullpen, it will allow the rest of the team’s relievers to go back into their normal roles. If the Phillies’ starters can start to pitch into the seventh inning and beyond for a few games, then it will allow the bullpen to get some much needed rest as well.