The July 4th fireworks arrived two days late at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phils lit up the night sky over South Philly Monday by lighting up the Cincinnati Reds, 22-1.

That’s not a misprint. The Phillies hit three home runs in the first inning alone, jumping out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back.

Cole Hamels, with plenty of room to breathe, breezed through seven innings, giving up just one run on three hits.

Up until the Mets arrived last Friday, the Phillies season had been marked by their puzzling inability to play well in their home park.

Then they swept the New Yorkers. And last night they put an exclamation point on the turnaround, jumping all over promising young Reds’ starter Johnny Cueto.

This one was over before many fans even had the chance to meander from Ashburn Alley to their seats. Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Greg Dobbs all homered in the first. Even Hamels got into the act, lashing a two-run double down the right-field line.

Jayson Werth capped things off in the eighth with a grand slam.

Before it was over, the Phils had pounded out 21 hits. They hit four home runs. They tied a club record for the most runs scored in the first inning. Their 22-run onslaught was the most they’ve scored since they dropped 26 on the Mets back in June 11 at Veterans Stadium. It was easily their biggest offensive output at Citizens Bank Park.

It was what is usually referred to as a laugher. Or maybe it was better put by Reds manager Dusty Baker. “We got slaughtered as they used to say,” he succinctly noted.

So put away all those thoughts about how the Phils can’t win at home.
They’ve now reeled off four straight victories and have three more games against the Reds before the Pirates arrived for the last weekend before the All-Star break.

The only nagging feeling is the same one you always have in these blowout affairs. Any chance they can stash some of these runs for a game in which they need them?

Let’s hope they don’t lose 2-1 tonight.