NEW YORK — Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets zeroed in once again.

Pelfrey and the Mets bullpen pulled off a most extraordinary pitching feat in this big-hitting era, shutting out Philadelphia for the third straight game last night and handing the flailing Phillies a 3-0 loss.

Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the NL champions got swept in the series without scoring a single run — it marked the first time since 1983 that Philadelphia was blanked three days in a row.

"Luckily, we were able to keep it going," Pelfrey said.

Pelfrey (7-1) and a pair of relievers held the Phillies to four singles while winning their fifth consecutive game. The big right-hander followed top efforts by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and Japanese newcomer Hisanori Takahashi as the Mets threw back-to-back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1988.

"I think your job is to put up zeros," Pelfrey said. "I thought I was OK."

In today's times when sluggers rule, it was even more amazing. Not since 2004 had any team shut out another club in a three-game series — Johan Santana and Minnesota blanked Kansas City in that set, STATS LLC said.

Santana will try to keep the streak going tonight when he starts for the Mets at Milwaukee.

"It doesn't matter if it's 1-0 or 10-0 or 10-9," he said. "As long as you win, that's what matters."

Jose Reyes, fresh from giving batting tips to the newly crowned Miss USA, was pretty at the plate. He singled and scored in the first, singled the next time up and delivered a two-run double in the seventh that finished Cole Hamels (5-3).

CUBS 1, DODGERS 0

Ted Lilly pitched seven scoreless innings, and Tyler Colvin drove in the lone run with a double in the eighth to lift host Chicago over Los Angeles. Sean Marshall (5-1) gave up two hits in the eighth and Carlos Marmol walked Blake DeWitt with one out before striking out pinch hitters Manny Ramirez and Garrett Anderson for his 11th save in 13 chances.

ROCKIES 8, DIAMONDBACKS 2

Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs hit consecutive home runs in the seventh inning, Troy Tulowitzki also homered and host Colorado completed a three-game sweep of Arizona with its fifth straight victory. The game was close until the Rockies' bats exploded off Dan Haren (5-4) in the seventh.

GIANTS 5, NATIONALS 4

Freddy Sanchez, who entered the game hitting .192, went 2 for 2, including a tiebreaking, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Aubrey Huff added a solo home run to lead San Francisco over Washington. Santiago Casilla (1-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning to get the win in relief of starter Barry Zito.

CARDINALS 8, PADRES 3

Albert Pujols hit his first homer and drove in his first runs in 12 games, and Brendan Ryan tied a career high with four hits to help visiting St. Louis avoid its first three-game sweep against San Diego in nearly 15 years. Pujols, who was homerless with no RBIs since May 14, finished with three RBIs.

REDS 8, PIRATES 2

Scott Rolen's three-run homer started an early surge off right-hander Charlie Morton (1-9) and host Cincinnati rolled to its best record since 2006. The NL Central leaders have won 21 of their last 30 games, moving a season-high eight games over .500 at 28-20.

BREWERS 4, ASTROS 3

Matt Lindstrom walked Rickie Weeks with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to force in the winning run and lift Milwaukee. Lindstrom (1-1) had converted 22 straight save opportunities dating to last season, including his first 10 this season.

BRAVES 8, MARLINS 3

Martin Prado had three hits and drove in two runs as visiting Atlanta beat Florida. Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar each reached base three times and drove in a run in a game delayed by rain for 1 hour, 17 minutes. The Braves have won seven of nine.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ROYALS 4, RED SOX 3

Brian Bannister (4-3) gave up three runs on nine hits over six innings and David DeJesus drove in a pair of runs to help host Kansas City end Boston's five-game winning streak. Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2) walked a season-high eight while allowing three runs over 4 2/3 innings.

ATHLETICS 7, ORIOLES 5

Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled in three runs to cap a five-run top of the eighth inning, and Oakland rallied to beat Baltimore to win the final two games of the three-game road series. Orioles starter Brad Bergesen took a two-hitter and a 5-2 lead into the eighth.

RAYS 5, WHITE SOX 1

Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford homered for Tampa Bay in support of Jeff Niemann (5-0), who held visiting Chicago to singles by Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham before giving up a solo homer to Mark Teahen, leading off the eighth inning. Randy Choate and Dan Wheeler finished the four-hitter with a scoreless ninth.

TWINS 8, YANKEES 2

Jason Kubel hit a solo homer in the sixth, a three-run shot in the seventh and had an RBI double as host Minnesota beat New York to avoid a three-game sweep. The Twins had gone eight games and 349 plate appearances without a home run before Kubel ended the drought.