PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Kris Benson limited Cincinnati to five hits in eight innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Reds 2-1 Friday night.

Benson (1-3) didn't allow a hit until Benito Santiago singled with one out in the fifth. The right-hander struck out six and walked three.

Mike Williams got the final two outs for his third save.

Pittsburgh's Brian Giles homered off Pete Harnisch (0-3) leading off the second inning, the right fielder's fifth home run of the season. Giles had hit just one homer in the last 15 games.

Harnisch has given up six home runs in 25 innings this season.

Giles opened the fourth with a single as the Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out, but managed just one run. Kevin Young doubled and Wil Cordero was safe on third baseman Aaron Boone's throwing error. Pat Meares drove in the run with a sacrifice fly.

The Reds scored in the eighth. Pokey Reese and Dmitri Young had one-out singles to put runners on first and third, and Ken Griffey Jr. had an RBI roundout.

Benson pitched out of a jam came in the seventh when he walked Bichette and gave up a single to Santiago. Boone grounded out and pinch-hitter Michael Tucker hit into a double play

The Pirates have won three of the last four games.

Game notes
The four-game series is part of the Reds' longest trip of the season. They were 2-1 in New York, and will finish the trip with three games in Philadelphia. ... The Reds have yet to win three consecutive games this season. ... The Pirates started a stretch of 10 consecutive games against NL Central opponents. ... Pittsburgh's Jason Kendall was hitless in four at-bats, ending his hitting streak at 12 games.