It was just about the only damage the Dodgers inflicted on him last night.

Williams was in top form, coming within an out of his third career complete game. In the end, he settled for a strong outing and a victory as the Giants beat the Dodgers 5-3 at Dodger Stadium.

Williams took a 5-1 lead into the ninth inning but served up a two-run homer to Juan Encarnacion, leaving the bullpen to sew up the Giants' first win against their archrivals in five attempts this season.

He also survived no worse for wear after the back of his right arm absorbed a glancing line drive off the bat of Dodgers pitcher Jeff Weaver.

"I'm starting to feel really confident," said Williams (3-1), who had the longest outing by a Giants starter this season. "I threw first-pitch strikes and my off-speed pitches were awesome. That's how I got most of those guys out."

Though Williams endured a shaky spring, he has emerged as the Giants' best pitcher in April. He is 3-1; the rest of the rotation is 1-7.

"When you throw four pitches, it's hard to get them all together early," pitching coach Dave Righetti said. "Everybody wants to see the fastball early but it's more important for him to get his touch down. That's extremely tough to do in Arizona."

Williams got offensive support from two unlikely sources. Michael Tucker, who was 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position, hit a two-run double in the first inning. In the eighth, struggling catcher A.J. Pierzynski dumped a two-run single over the head of third baseman Adrian Beltre.

The Giants needed the cushion. In the ninth, Williams gave up a broken-bat hit to Shawn Green —the first hit he allowed since the third inning — and Encarnacion's home run made it a save situation.

Williams threw 117 pitches and Giants manager Felipe Alou wasn't going to let him lose the game.

"I was really beating myself for hanging that changeup," Williams said. "I wanted to finish that game bad."