CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs got a solid start out of Kerry Wood , albeit a brief one.

Wood made an early exit despite five strong innings and Jeromy Burnitz belted a three-run homer as Chicago posted a 5-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates .

Wood (1-1) picked up his first win of the season by allowing just two runs and three hits and striking out eight in just 76 pitches. He felt tightness in his pitching shoulder while warming up prior to the game and the Cubs decided to limit him to 75 pitches as a precautionary measure.

"I felt a little something in the bullpen while I was warming up," Wood said. "The doctor told me tendinitis. I don't think it is any big deal, but they are going to treat it aggressively to get the soreness out."

The 27-year-old righthander missed time in spring training with bursitis in his right shoulder and tendinitis. Wood had struggled so far this season, but lowered his ERA on the season to 5.79 in this one.

With two men on and the Cubs trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Burnitz, who had been hitless in his last eight at-bats, hammered a 1-0 offering from Pirates starter Dave Williams (1-2) over the right field wall for a 4-2 advantage.

"Concentration is the key for me," Burnitz said. "Yesterday I had a horrendous day. I just kept swinging outside of my zone. Today I did a better job of plate coverage."

Chicago's bullpen was impressive as Glendon Rusch , Michael Wuertz and Chad Fox combined for four scoreless innings and four strikeouts.

Fox notched his first save since April 25, 2003 and just the sixth of his career, one day after LaTroy Hawkins blew his second save in five opportunities this season.

"Dusty hasn't told me anything about a change in roles, but it is pretty clear all the guys are going to be able to go out there and matchup in the right situation," Fox said.

Cubs second baseman Neifi Perez led off the fourth inning with his second home run of the season. Perez had three hits and drove in two in this one.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Pirates, who have lost six of their last eight. Williams surrendered four runs and five hits in six innings.

"In the fourth inning I just didn't pitch," Williams said. "In the back of my mind I knew I had to throw another curveball to Burnitz and I just didn't and he got me."