MLB: Philadelphia 3, LA Dodgers 0

LOS ANGELES, June 5 (UPI) -- Cole Hamels threw the third shutout of his career Thursday, giving Philadelphia its seventh straight win with a 3-0 decision over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hamels (4-2), MVP of last year's World Series, improved to 4-0 over his last seven starts. The Phillies opened a four-game lead in the National League East over the New York Mets.

Philadelphia played in Los Angeles for the first time since finishing off the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series last season.

Hamels threw 97 pitches while allowing five hits and striking out five without walking a batter.

The Phillies broke through in the fourth against Clayton Kershaw (3-4) when Chase Utley doubled, went to third on a Jayson Werth ground out and scored on Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly.

Raul Ibanez doubled home a run in the sixth and Werth had an RBI single in the seventh.

Los Angeles did not advance a runner to third base during the entire game and bounced into two double plays. Hamels faced only two batters over the minimum.