Cliff Lee pitched his sixth shutout of the season to win his seventh consecutive start and Hunter Pence had two hits and three RBIs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies extended their National League East lead to 8 1/2 games over the Braves, who maintained an 8 1/2-game lead in the NL wild-card race. Monday's game was the first of six meetings between the division rivals before the end of the month.

Lee (16-7) has been a big reason why the Phillies have distanced themselves from the pack. He hasn't allowed a run in 29 2/3 innings and hasn't lost since July 25.

The Phillies staked him to an early lead on Pence's two-run single in the first against Braves starter Derek Lowe. Pence sliced an RBI double just inside the first base bag against Lowe in the three-run fifth to improve to 8-for-17 in his career against the righthander.

Lowe (9-13) allowed seven runs (five earned) over five innings and lost for the third time in four decisions against the Phillies this season.

Philadelphia avoided losing three straight for the first time since a four-game skid from May 31-June 4.