Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Brett Myers recovered from a shaky first inning to strike out 11 over eight strong frames, and the Phillies' offensive fireworks continued in a 12-3 blowout of the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game set between the top two teams in the National League East.

Myers (3-6) allowed six hits and three runs -- but held the Marlins scoreless after the first inning -- walking three to get his first win since April 17. Ryan Howard and Chris Coste each had three-run homers for the Phillies, who leapfrogged Florida into first place in the NL East with the win. Chase Utley hit his major league-leading 18th homer for Philadelphia, which has won a season-high five straight.

The Phillies have scored an astounding 60 runs in five games this week, posting totals of 15, 20, seven, six, and 12, all in wins.

"We've been trying to do the same thing we've been doing the last three, four, five games," Howard said. "Just going out there, competing, giving ourselves opportunities. We just feel now guys are stepping up."

Mark Hendrickson (7-3) was rocked for 10 runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Marlins, who have dropped three in a row and now trail the Phillies by a half-game. Luis Gonzalez had a two-run single for Florida, which lost star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to a left hand injury.

The smoking hot Philadelphia lineup erased a 3-0 deficit and then some with a seven-run second. Howard led off with a walk, and Pedro Feliz reached on a one-out infield single. Coste then deposited a high changeup into the seats in left-center, a three-run shot that tied the game.

So Taguchi lined a single to left and Hendrickson committed a cardinal sin by walking Myers. Jimmy Rollins lined out, but Shane Victorino made Hendrickson pay by lacing a two-run double into the gap in left-center. Utley followed with a screaming line drive into the seats in right. The two-run bomb boosted the Phils to a 7-3 lead.

Philadelphia tacked on four more in the fourth. Rollins hit an RBI single to left with one out, but was forced out on Victorino's low liner, which Ramirez knocked down and flipped to second for a fielder's choice. Ramirez took the liner off his left hand, however, and dropped to his knees in pain after the play. He ultimately opted to stay in the game, for the moment.

An Utley single to right ended Hendrickson's night, and Howard greeted Burke Badenhop with a low liner that bounced off the pole in left for a three-run homer. The Phils took an 11-3 lead, and the Marlins pulled Ramirez an inning later for Alfredo Amezaga.

The Phils added a run when Taguchi walked with the bases loaded in the seventh. Myers, meanwhile, settled down in a big way, striking out the side in the fourth and eighth innings as he easily held down the big lead.

Myers was wild in the first, and the Marlins took advantage. Ramirez singled to center on the first pitch of the game, and Myers then walked Jeremy Hermida on four pitches. Jorge Cantu ripped a single down the line in left, scoring Ramirez. Myers then walked Mike Jacobs, loading the bases for Dan Uggla.

Uggla popped the first pitch up to shallow center, however, for the first out of the frame. Gonzalez then lifted a fly ball to left-center that Pat Burrell misjudged, and it fell in for a two-run single, handing the Marlins an early 3-0 lead.