"Phillies players have said it until their faces have broken out in red pinstripes: You don't get revenge for a postseason loss in July and August.

They are right, of course. Only winning the National League pennant will heal the wounds that the Phils suffered against the San Francisco Giants last October.

But in the meantime, a good showing in the City by the Bay this week should help.

The Phillies annual visit to AT&T Park –- always a difficult task -- got off to an excellent start Thursday night thanks to Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence and John Mayberry Jr. Lee pitched what he believed was his best game of the season in racking up his majors-leading fifth shutout, and Pence and Mayberry both hit solo home runs as the Phils won, 3-0, in one of baseball's most electric environments. (The Phils are just 15-24 all-time here.) Pence added an RBI single in the ninth inning as the Phils matched a season-best with their seventh straight win. By the way, they haven't lost since Pence arrived last weekend.

The Phils' seven-game winning streak has pushed their advantage in the NL East to 8 ½ games. The streak started after the Phils were beaten on back-to-back nights by the Giants at home last week."