Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Mike Rivera went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in and Manny Parra carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning on the way to his first major-league victory, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park.

Parra (1-0) allowed a total of two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, leaving just one out after his no-hit bid was spoiled by Giants left-fielder Eugenio Velez. The 25-year-old California-bred right-hander struck out seven and walked just two in not only earning his first big-league win, but helping hot-starting Milwaukee to its fourth win in five games to open the season.

"It feels great to come out and help this team, to continue to do what it has been doing early on," said Parra. "I don't know if this was the best stuff I ever had, but that's what I expect out of myself. I think that's me being aggressive. That's the way I came out of spring training. That's just me pitching with the right mindset."

Ryan Braun went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Brewers, while Gabe Kapler provided a pinch-hit blast.

"It was a big day for Mike Rivera," said Brewers manager Ned Yost. "Two big RBIs, and he did a nice job of handling Manny Parra...Gabe Kapler with his first pinch-hit home run, which turned out to be the game-winner. Every once in a while, those guys need to fill in for our regular players. It keeps guys sharp, and it helps our regular players."

Kevin Correia (0-1) was on the losing end of Parra's strong outing, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out four and walking three over six innings. Ray Durham went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI for the Giants, losers of two straight and four of five.

"We did battle early," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his team. "And we hit some balls good and didn't get a break. We're going to have to play that type of game. We can't back off."

Rivera's two out RBI single in the bottom of the second plated Corey Hart and gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile Parra was dominant, striking out at least one Giants hitter in each of the first five innings to offset two Milwaukee errors.

But the Brewers didn't generate any more offense to support their pitcher until the fifth. Then Hart and Rivera started the inning with back-to-back doubles, and Gabe Gross made it a 3-0 game with a two-out RBI single.

Velez abruptly ended the no-hitter in the top of the sixth with a leadoff triple to right, and came home to score just moments later on Rivera's passed ball. Parra got Bengie Molina to fly to center for the inning's first out, but his afternoon was done after Durham singled home Randy Winn to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

Braun answered in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff blast to left, his first of the season, to stake Milwaukee to a 4-2 advantage.

Dan Ortmeier and Brian Bocock singled to start the Giants' half of the seventh, and David Riske loaded the bases when he walked pinch-hitter Fred Lewis. Another Giants substitution, Dave Roberts, then plated Ortmeier when he grounded into a force out, trimming the Brewers lead to 4-3.

Kapler reclaimed the two-run cushion for Milwaukee in the seventh when he blasted the first pinch-hit homer of his career, a solo shot to left off Giants reliever Jack Taschner.

San Francisco again responded though, as Durham homered to right off Guillermo Mota in the top of the eighth. Mota settled and retired Jose Castillo and Ortmeier to end the inning, and was then lifted for Eric Gagne in the ninth.

Gagne struck out Bocock, then induced outs in the air from Lewis and Rich Aurilia to earn the save in a drama-deprived ninth.