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.

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 blankings for the first time since 1988.

At Cincinnati, Scott Rolen’s three-run homer started an early splurge off right-hander Charlie Morton — he major leagues’ leader in losses—and the Reds rolled to their best record since 2006 by beating Pittsburgh.

The NL Central leaders have won 21 of their last 30 games, moving a season-high eight over .500 at 28-20. They haven’t been that well off since ’06, also was the last time they were in first place so deep into a season.

Cincinnati batted around in each of the first two innings for seven runs off Morton (1-9), who had his second-shortest start of the season.

Johnny Cueto (5-1) won his fourth straight start.

At Denver, Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs hit consecutive home runs in the seventh inning, Troy Tulowitzki also homered and Colorado completed a sweep of the three-game series.

Gonzalez and Spilborghs finished with three hits each for the Rockies, who have won a season-high five straight. Stephen Drew had two hits and scored a run for Arizona, which has dropped four in a row.

The game was close until the Rockies got to Dan Haren (5-4) in the seventh.

At Chicago, Ted Lilly pitched seven scoreless innings, and Tyler Colvin drove in the lone run with a double in the eighth.

Lilly pitched three-hit ball in his best start this season but still is searching for his first win since April 24. He’s 0-4 in his last six outings.

Dodgers starter John Ely (3-2), who grew up in suburban Homewood, Ill., held the Cubs to four hits in 7 1-3 innings in his first start in Chicago.

At San Francisco, Freddy Sanchez hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning after earlier getting hit in the face by a spiked cleat, and Aubrey Huff added a solo home run.

Santiago Casilla (1-0) pitched 2-3 of an inning to get the win in relief of starter Barry Zito, who allowed four earned runs on seven hits over 6 1-3 innings with three strikeouts.

Adam Dunn hit his 10th homer of the season for Washington but was denied No. 11 after umpires used instant replay to uphold their original ruling. Sean Burnett (0-2) took the loss.

At Milwaukee, Matt Lidstom walked Rickie Weeks with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to force in the winning run.

Rookie John Axford (1-0), the fifth reliever used by Brewers manager Ken Macha, pitched a scoreless 10th for his first victory.

Lidstrom (1-1) had converted 22 straight save opportunities dating to last season, including his first ten in 2010.

At San Diego, 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 lead St. Louis.

Pujols was homerless with no RBIs since May 14 at Cincinnati. He lined a shot off Wade LeBlanc (2-3) in the fifth inning that hit off the third-story balcony of the brick Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field.

Rookie P.J. Walters (1-0) won his first major league game with five shutout innings.

At Miami, Florida, Martin Prado had three hits and drove in two runs for Atlanta, which has won seven of nine.

Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar each reached base four times and drove in a run in a game delayed by rain 1 hour, 17 minutes.

Peter Moylan (2-0) pitched an inning in relief of Tim Hudson, who did not return after the delay. Hudson allowed two runs and five hits in four innings.

The Marlins lost for the fifth time in seven games when they failed to take advantage of the Braves’ season high-tying four errors.