PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Damian Moss allowed five hits in seven-plus scoreless innings to become the second four-game winner in the National League and the San Francisco Giants scored all their runs in the third inning in a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Moss (4-0) did not allow a runner past second base and joins Pittsburgh's Jeff Suppan as the only NL pitchers with four victories. The lefthander threw 64 of 113 pitches for strikes, walking three and striking out three.
"A very strong outing from Moss," Giants manager Felipe Alou said. "He is a more confident pitcher than we saw in the spring. This is an outing that we needed. It helped save our bullpen. Moss had a good year with the Braves last year. He just didn't get off the blocks early last year. He has a good curve ball."
He retired six straight batters before allowing consecutive singles to Abraham Nunez and Jack Wilson to start the eighth. Felix Rodriguez came in and retired pinch hitter Randall Simon on a flyout before striking out Aramis Ramirez and getting former Giant Reggie Sanders to ground out.
Tim Worrell gave up one run and two hits in the ninth and picked up his seventh save in eight opportunities as the Giants improved to 17-4 for the since 1945 when they won 20 of their first 24 games en route to a 78-74 finish.
"It's always important to me to come out of the gate strong," Moss said. "We're on a good roll right now. It was good for me to keep the momentum going. Our bullpen has been getting the job done. Certainly opening the season the way that I have makes you feel confident."
Former Pirate Barry Bonds returned to the lineup after missing two games with a stiff neck and went 2-for-3 with a walk.
"I worked on it all night," Bonds said about his neck. "It felt good coming to the park today."
Pirates starter Kris Benson (2-3) went seven innings, allowing three runs and nine hits and lost his third straight decision. He walked three and struck out six.
"The one bad inning is they got their hits together. Unfortunately, it's not going my way," Benson said. "As a starter, you can't be too concerned about just anything. Always remember that your job is to go out and get back to the dugout as quickly as I can."
Nunez and Wilson each had two hits for Pittsburgh, which left nine runners on base and lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
The Giants loaded the bases against Benson with one out in the first inning, but Jose Cruz Jr. lined out to the righthander, who doubled Bonds off first base.
San Francisco did not fail to capitalize on its chances in the third. Ray Durham drew a one-out walk and after Neifi Perez flied out, Edgardo Alfonzo singled to right field. Bonds lined a single into right field to score Durham and Cruz grounded a 2-0 pitch past first baseman Kevin Young for another RBI single. Andres Galarraga delivered a run-scoring single to left field before Benson struck out Yorvit Torrealba.
Galarraga started at first base as J.T. Snow missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury.
Craig Wilson greeted Worrell with a single and moved to second when pinch hitter Kenny Lofton was thrown out trying to bunt for a hit. Worrell struck out Rob Mackowiak in front of an RBI double by pinch hitter - Stairs and then got Nunez to ground out.
