Cain and three relievers combined on a five-hit shutout, and the Giants were 2-0 winners. Cain gave up three hits in six innings, and Bobby Howry, Jeremy Affelt and closer Brian Wilson completed the first shutout of the Mets this season.

Cain is 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA. No one else in the rotation is close. Tim Lincecum has one fewer win (3-1) and an ERA higher by more than a run (3.75).

Barry Zito, who was at his worst in his first two starts, is 1-3 with a 3.89. Randy Johnson is 3-4 with a 6.86 ERA, and Jonathan Sanchez is at 1-3 and 5.06.

For someone who went a combined 15-30 the past two seasons, Cain looks like he is pitching with more authority.

He has six quality starts in eight outings. His one blemish Sunday was five walks, but three came in one inning and didn't hurt him, thanks to a nifty double play that began with first baseman Travis Ishikawa wisely throwing home on a tough play before Bengie Molina whizzed the ball back to first for the second out.

Cain was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four April starts, and he's 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in four May starts.

GIANTS 2, METS 0: C Bengie Molina and RHP Matt Cain hit run-scoring singles in the first and fifth innings, respectively, and Cain earned the win with six solid innings. Mets' RHP Mike Pelfrey was charged with three balks. The Mets loaded the bases in the second and eighth innings, but Cain and LH reliever Jeremy Affeldt escaped those jams.