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Lee blanks Giants, Pence homers in series opener

Aug 5, 2011 - 6:02 AM San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Hunter Pence hit his first home run in a Phillies uniform and Cliff Lee tossed his fifth shutout of the season, as Philadelphia shut down the San Francisco Giants, 3-0, in the opener of a four- game series.

Lee (11-7) gave up seven hits, struck out eight and walked zero while improving to 4-0 in four regular-season starts against San Francisco. The left-hander is the first Phillies pitcher to record five-or-more shutouts in a season since Steve Carlton had six in 1982.

"I felt like I located my pitches as good as I have all year tonight," Lee said. "Everything was working, I was working ahead in the count, staying out of the heart of the plate, I felt like I could throw any pitch at any time to the spot I wanted to and it was just one of those nights. When that happens usually it's a good end result."

Pence went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the red-hot Phillies, who have won seven in a row for the first time since a seven-game run from June 10-16. John Mayberry added a solo homer.

Philadelphia's streak has given them an 8 1/2-game lead over the Braves in the NL East.

San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner (6-11) gave up two runs on six hits over eight innings to take the hard-luck loss. He struck out nine and walked two.

The Giants dispatched the Phillies in six games to win last season's National League Championship Series en route to the franchise's first World Series title since 1954.

Things didn't go much better for the Phils when they hosted the Giants from July 26-28, with San Francisco taking two of three.

Bumgarner struggled in the early going. Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco led off the game with back-to-back singles. But Rollins was caught trying to steal third. Shane Victorino walked to put men on first and second again. Ryan Howard lined out to third and Polanco was doubled off second to end the threat.

Philadelphia broke through in the second. Pence started the frame by blasting a first-pitch fastball over the wall in left. Mayberry made it back-to-back homers with a shot to left.

"Anytime you pick up a player like Pence you're going to be a better club all around," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's a great player too and gives them a right-handed bat there in the outfield that helps balance out their lineup and he had a big night tonight."

That was all the support Lee would need, as the left-hander worked out of multiple jams to keep the Phillies in front.

The Giants' inability to score with men in scoring position started in the third. Chris Stewart hit a one-out single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Aaron Rowand grounded out to end the inning.

In the fourth, Pablo Sandoval and Orlando Cabrera singled to put men on first and second with two outs. Lee got Cody Ross swinging to keep it a 2-0 game.

San Francisco's next chance to score came in the eighth. Aubrey Huff led off with a single. After Stewart flied out to left, pinch-hitter Andres Torres reached base on a slow dribbler to third. Lee got Rowand looking at strike three and Jeff Keppinger to ground out.

The Phillies added an insurance run in the ninth. Santiago Casilla gave up a one-out single to Victorino, who moved to second on Howard's groundout. Pence followed with an RBI single up the middle.

Lee worked around Carlos Beltran's one-out double in the home ninth to record his 10th career shutout.

Despite the loss, the Giants lead Arizona by a half-game in the NL West.

Game Notes

Lee has 25 career complete games...San Francisco activated infielder Mark DeRosa from the 60-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game. DeRosa had been out since May 19 with a left wrist strain. The Giants also optioned first baseman Brandon Belt to Triple-A Fresno...The Giants went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded six...Ross, last year's NLCS MVP, struck out four times.