PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard knows this place will go nuts with one more win.

"It will be absolute bedlam," he said. "It will be one of the craziest places on earth. It's kind of scary to imagine."

Then again, who would've guessed Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton would shut his eyes, take a huge swing and sock a ball into the seats?

Blanton became the first pitcher in 34 years to homer in the World Series, Howard drove in five runs with two homers and Philadelphia romped over the Tampa Bay Rays 10-2 on Sunday night to move within one win of its first title since 1980.

The team of 10,000 losses could give title-starved Philadelphia its first champion in any of the four big sports since the NBA's 76ers in 1983.

"A championship is the only way to fully reverse that thought of how the Phillies are portrayed," said Jimmy Rollins, who sparked the Phillies with three hits and three runs. "If we get that game, I believe we will be happy, the city will be happy, there will be a big parade."

Jayson Werth also homered as the Phillies took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Series and thrilled their frustrated, long-suffering fans.

"I didn't really buy into the whole thing about the city and the drought and all that kind of stuff," Howard said.

Cole Hamels will try to close out the Phillies' second Series title on Monday night against Scott Kazmir in a rematch of Game 1 starters. Hamels (4-0) is trying to become the first pitcher to win five postseason starts in one year.

Of the 42 teams to take 3-1 World Series leads, 36 have gone on to win the crown. After splitting the first two games in Florida, the Phillies improved to 6-0 at Citizens Bank Park this postseason. That includes a wacky, rain-delayed 5-4 win in Game 3 that ended at 1:47 a.m. Sunday.

"Cole looks for these moments. I call him Hollywood, because when the lights are on, that's when he's at his best," Rollins said. "And tomorrow night, the lights will definitely be on."