CHICAGO (AP) - Kerry Wood struck out 13 in eight impressive innings and Damian Miller homered and drove in two runs, leading the Chicago Cubs past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 Saturday.

Wood gave up only three hits and allowed just one runner past first base. He walked four and was pulled after 122 pitches.

Wood (2-0) has struck out 26 in 20 innings over three starts this season.

The Pirates did not threaten until the ninth, when they put two runners on base against reliever Mike Remlinger. Joe Borowski took over and got two outs for his second save.

Miller hit a solo home run off Kris Benson (2-1) in the third for a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Young, making his first start in right field since Sept. 21, 1996, dropped Corey Patterson's fly ball at warning track in the Cubs seventh for a two-base error.

One out later, Miller drove in Patterson with a single. After a sacrifice by Wood, Mark Grudzielanek hit an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

Patterson hit a two-out double in the second inning and Mark Bellhorn drove him in with a single, snapping an 0-for-24 slump.

Benson pitched seven innings and gave up four runs, two of them earned, and struck out six. Notes: Wood has 27 double-digit strikeout games in his career. ... The Pirates placed left fielder Brian Giles on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right knee. Adam Hyzdu was recalled from Triple-A Nashville. Pirates OF Matt Stairs missed the game because of a sore hamstring, forcing Young and Craig Wilson to make rare appearances in the outfield. Wilson also dropped a fly ball for an error. ... The Pirates didn't have an extra-base hit for the second straight day and have just four in their last six games.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-04-12-03 1653EDT