"The 45,737 fans who comprised the 181st consecutive sellout at Citizens Bank Park did their best Saturday night to make newly acquired Hunter Pence feel at home.

They cheered his every move.

In the field. At the plate. On the rail signing autographs before the game.

"The fans were giving me chills," he admitted. "I ran out to stretch and they went nuts. It was pretty amazing."

The right fielder did his best to acknowledge every ovation, including the loudest roar - by far - when PA announcer Dan Baker called out his first at-bat in a Phillies uniform in the bottom of the second inning.

It came on the heels of Ryan Howard's 430-foot home run off the ivy wall in center field.

Normally, Howard's blast or his 1,000th career hit later in the game, Jimmy Rollins' first-pitch homer in the third inning, Placido Polanco's first action since July 4, Shane Victorino's 12th triple of the season in the eighth or Cliff Lee's stellar pitching (and two hits at the plate) would have received the loudest cheers.

But it was obvious that the mere presence of Pence, who was 1-for-5 in his debut, was enough to spark a 16-hit attack, led by Howard's second four-hit game of the month, in a 7-4 win over the visiting Pirates.

It also was clear that Pence was overwhelmed by the reception.

"I can't even begin to explain it," he said. "It's surreal. I'm absolutely ecstatic to be here. To see that kind of support from my first game, you can't explain it. It's awesome.

"Thank you is all I can say."

It appeared to Phils manager Charlie Manuel that Pence already was paying big dividends to Howard, the club's cleanup hitter who has struggled at times this season."