Pittsburgh ? Don’t tell the Chicago Cubs it’s too early in the season to get excited.

Hee Seop Choi’s two-run double helped Chicago open a four-run lead before Kris Benson retired a batter, and Matt Clement limited Pittsburgh to two hits over seven innings in the Cubs’ 7-2 victory Friday night.

The Cubs failed to score in double digits, as they did in their previous three games, but still won their fourth in a row to maintain their NL Central lead. They can match the club record of 16 April victories set in 1969 just by splitting their final 10 games this month.

Clement said the difference in this Cubs team and the one that lost 95 games last season couldn’t be more apparent.

“It’s great to just keep winning,” he said. “This has been a lot of fun these first three weeks. You look around this clubhouse and see the talent we have, and have to think this could be a pretty exciting season.”

There was a much different look in the Pirates’ clubhouse after their fifth loss in six games. Not only did they hold a meeting before the game, they held a lengthy one afterward — a rarity so early in the season.

Even when reporters were allowed in a half-hour after the game ended, several players could be heard yelling behind closed doors in a trainer’s room.

“We’ve got to have meetings like this,” shortstop Jack Wilson said. “It was very positive.”

Given a 4-0 lead before taking the mound, Clement (2-1) made his third successive strong start by striking out 10 and walking three — the eighth time in his career he’s struck out 10 or more.

Giants 5, Dodgers 1

Los Angeles — Marquis Grissom homered against his former team and Jason Schmidt pitched into the eighth inning as San Francisco beat Los Angeles for its 14th victory in 16 games this season. J.T. Snow drove in three runs for the Giants, who improved to 7-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history. They’re off to their best 16-game start since the 1918 New York Giants opened 18-1.

Braves 5, Phillies 4

Atlanta — Despite another mediocre outing from Greg Maddux, Atlanta rallied for its fifth straight victory. Vinny Castilla’s two-run double capped a four-run sixth inning for the Braves, who climbed above .500 (9-8) for the first time this season and within a half-game of first-place Montreal in the NL East.

Mets 6, Marlins 3

New York — Tony Clark’s first career pinch-hit homer, a three-run shot in the eighth inning, sent New York past Florida. Mo Vaughn and Mike Piazza also knocked in runs for the Mets, who have won three of four following a six-game losing streak. Ty Wigginton tied it at 3 with a two-out RBI single in the seventh. David Weathers (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the victory.

Rockies 12, Padres 1

Denver — Aaron Cook came within one out of the 13th complete-game shutout in Coors Field history and had three hits of his own as Colorado beat San Diego. Cook allowed five hits and only one runner past first base until the ninth inning when the Padres scored on Shane Victorino’s sacrifice fly. Chris Stynes, Jay Payton and Preston Wilson each homered.

Cardinals 6, D’backs 3

St. Louis — Woody Williams pitched seven shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak this season to 192¼3 innings as St. Louis beat Arizona for its fifth victory in six games. Edgar Renteria homered and doubled and Tino Martinez had two hits, a walk and an RBI for St. Louis in the first meeting against Arizona since the Cardinals swept the Diamondbacks in the first round of the playoffs.

Astros 11, Brewers 5

Milwaukee — Morgan Ensberg homered and capped a six-run fourth inning with a two-run single as Houston beat Milwaukee. Roy Oswalt (2-1) struggled for the second consecutive start, but notched his first victory since opening day. Oswalt allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings and has allowed 14 runs his past two starts.