Flushing, NY -- (Sports Network) - Mike Pelfrey threw seven shutout innings to win his fifth consecutive start, and Carlos Beltran blasted a three-run homer in the opening inning off Tim Lincecum, as the surging New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants, 7-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Beltran had three hits and four RBI for the Mets, who have won four contests in a row and six of their last eight to pull within 1 1/2 games of Philadelphia for the top spot in the National League East. The Phillies lost at home to St. Louis, 2-0, Tuesday night. Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis also homered.

Pelfrey (7-6) allowed three hits and struck out five to remain unbeaten in his last eight trips to the mound. The right-hander hasn't lost since May 26 at home against Florida.

Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith each threw a perfect inning in relief as the Mets retired 25 of the final 27 San Francisco batters. The Giants didn't have a runner past first base after the opening inning.

Lincecum (10-2), an All-Star this year, had been unbeaten in his previous 12 outings and was dealt his first defeat since April 29 against Colorado. He allowed nine hits and four runs through six innings.

Aaron Rowand, John Bowker and Rich Aurilia each singled the Giants, who have lost back-to-back contests.

The Giants loaded the bases in the first inning, but Pelfrey escaped the jam by fanning Bowker to end the frame.

"He has been pitching for us great the past month," Beltran said of Pelfrey. "Every time he takes the mound I feel we have a chance to win the ball game. He's a young guy and he's becoming the pitcher everyone said he was going to be."

In the bottom half, Endy Chavez singled with one out and David Wright walked, setting up Beltran, who smashed his 14th homer of the year, a shot to right.

"I was just trying to get an out," Lincecum said. "Plenty of times when I leave up pitches, they get crushed."

Delgado homered to right-center with two down in the sixth, and the Mets tacked on two more runs in the seventh thanks to RBI singles from Beltran and Damion Easley.

Tatis led off the eighth with a homer to center.

Game Notes

San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez (8-4) will face New York's Johan Santana (7-7) on Wednesday...Easley has a 10-game hitting streak...New York has scored 57 runs in its last eight games...Mets infielder Argenis Reyes had a pinch-hit single in the seventh for his first major league hit...The Mets sent outfielder Ryan Church to the 15-day disabled list again due to post- concussion symptoms. They replaced Church on the roster by calling up outfielder Nick Evans from Double-A Binghamton.