MILWAUKEE — Though he admits his first home game as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers six years ago was an especially nervous time for him, Ned Yost doesn't get overly excited for home openers anymore.

"It's a great day for our fans," Yost said. "But it's also a very busy day and you just want to get it out of the way so that you can move on and start rolling."

Start rolling? The Brewers already are rolling.

With their 13-4 pounding of the San Francisco Giants on Friday at highly charged Miller Park, Milwaukee won its third game in four tries, seizing the early season momentum for the second consecutive year.

"Our confidence," outfielder Corey Hart said, "is through the roof right now."

That's saying something at Miller Park, where the closed roof made the weather more hitter-friendly than it was for the Brewers' first three games at frigid Wrigley Field. No matter what the conditions, however, the Brewers are playing with a confidence and a swagger they simply didn't have a year ago.

With another year of experience for the many talented young players and an influx of complementary veterans to the roster, the Brewers are playing and acting like their time is now.

They won two of three against the Chicago Cubs behind their pitching and defense, then raked the Giants for 16 hits once their hands thawed out Friday.

"I think we're playing with a lot more confidence this year," shortstop J.J. Hardy said. "It should pay off."

It already has.

In the Brewers' season-opening 4-3 victory over the Cubs, newly acquired and still-suspect closer Eric Gagne coughed up a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning. Blown saves adversely affected Milwaukee last year, especially during the pennant drive, but not this time.

The Brewers rebounded to win the game in the 10th even though it was on the road, where they struggled in 2007, and it was against Chicago, the defending champion in the National League Central.

"The demeanor's different this year," team owner Mark Attanasio said. "These guys are acting like they belong. You saw that at Wrigley Field, when they tied it up in the ninth inning and our guys stayed strong, didn't hang their heads, came back and beat the Cubs in the 10th inning."

The Brewers demonstrated another side of their new-found confidence against the Giants. After taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, their bats went silent.

It was only temporary, though, and they put the game away with five-run outbursts in the fifth and sixth innings.

Last season, the Brewers often jumped to early leads before getting lackadaisical at the plate and letting the opponent climb back into the game. This year's more mature Brewers team kept the pressure on the Giants and ended the suspense early.

"I think these kids are more experienced," Yost said. "They've got another year under their belts. That (killer instinct) comes with confidence and it comes with experience, being able to continue to score runs."

It should be remembered that the Brewers also got off to a fast start last year, going 24-10 before fading in the second half and eventually falling two wins short of the Cubs.

The Brewers insist this year's impressive start is different.

"It feels different in the fact that we feel more relaxed," first baseman Prince Fielder said. "There's no pressure because we've all (been through it). We've got some experience now. We know what we have to do and now we've just got to go do it."

Indeed, the Brewers understand the pressures of dealing with high expectations and being in a pennant race, two things they never had experienced prior to last season.

Combine those lessons with a roster Fielder said has "great ability," and everything has changed for the Brewers.

They always could hit, but this season they have improved their defense and speed on the bases and have a more versatile and experienced bullpen. Mostly, though, they believe they're a good team.

And, so far, they are.

"Our confidence, one through 25, is obviously a lot stronger this year," Hart said. "Last year, we thought we could win. This year, we know we're a good ballclub and we can win a lot of games."

It's early, but the Brewers already are rolling in that direction.

Contact Tom Oates at toates@madison.com or 608-252-6172.