Giants Vs. Cards game 3
SERIES: National League Championship Series, Giants lead 2-0.
TIME: Saturday, 4:17 p.m. ET.
After facing a decisive game in the NL Division Series, the San Francisco Giants seem intent on avoiding that situation in the NLCS.
Coming off a sweep of the first two games in St. Louis, the Giants look to move within one victory of the World Series when they face the Cardinals at Pacific Bell Park in Game 3.
San Francisco needed five games to knock off the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, but the Giants had little trouble with the Cardinals in the first two games of this series.
After pounding Cardinals pitching for a 9-6 victory in the opener, the Giants got a stellar pitching performance from Jason Schmidt on Thursday night and went on to a 3-1 win in Game 2.
The victory put Barry Bonds, whose offensive exploits were not even needed Thursday, within two wins of the first World Series appearance of his illustrious career. Bonds was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Game 2.
Schmidt allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings and Rich Aurilia continued his playoff power surge with two home runs as the Giants put themselves into a very favorable position going into Game 3.
"This is the highlight of my career, no doubt," said Schmidt, who allowed four hits and struck out eight. "There's no way it couldn't be. We're on the road to the World Series and up 2-0."
Only three times in postseason history has a team lost the first two games at home and come back to win a best-of-7 series -- and it's never happened in an LCS.
"To come in here and win two games, you think about how many times we've been heartbroken in the bottom of the ninth in this park," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "We had a number of heroes tonight."
The Giants bullpen continued its strong work, as Robb Nen earned his second save of the series with 1 1/3 innings. San Francisco relievers have allowed one earned run in 5 1/3 innings against St. Louis.
While the Cardinals are in a precarious position, manager Tony La Russa hardly seems surprised -- or discouraged -- given the adversity his team has experienced this season.
"In one sense, it's a perfect setup for us," La Russa said. "It's been a really hard year. It's been a really hard start."
Third baseman Scott Rolen could be back in the lineup Saturday as St. Louis attempts to climb out of the 0-2 hole. Rolen, who sprained his left shoulder in Game 2 of the first round, was included on the roster and targeted Game 3 of the NLCS for his return.
"Mentally, I'm ready to go," Rolen said. "As soon as I catch up physically I'll be back on the field."
Even if the Cardinals get Rolen back, they'll need more out of the rest of their lineup against Giants right-hander Russ Ortiz, who beat the Braves twice in the division series, including Game 5. Leadoff hitter Fernando Vina, first baseman Tino Martinez and shortstop Edgar Renteria are all hitting under .200 against San Francisco.
Martinez, known for his playoff heroics during his six seasons with the New York Yankees, is 1-for-18 in this postseason.
"I knew I swung the bat well in the Arizona series and didn't get any hits, but I just put it behind me from day to day now and game to game," Martinez said. "My focus is on the Game 3 pitcher and trying to help our team win the game, and not really worry about what I haven't done in previous games."
Cardinals left-hander Chuck Finley will be charged with trying to keep his team from falling behind 3-0 in the series. Finley pitched well in his first start of the postseason, beating the Diamondbacks.
Game 4 will be Sunday night at Pac Bell.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Cardinals -- NL Central champions; beat Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0 in division series. Giants -- NL wild card; beat Atlanta Braves 3-2 in division series.
PROJECTED LINEUPS: Cardinals -- 2B Vina (.270, 1 HR, 54 RBI), RF J.D. Drew (.252, 18, 56), CF Jim Edmonds (.311, 28, 83), LF Albert Pujols (.314, 34, 127), 1B Martinez (.262, 21, 75), 3B Rolen (.266, 31, 110), SS Renteria (.305, 11, 83), C Mike Matheny (.244, 3, 35). Giants -- CF Kenny Lofton (.261, 11 HRs, 51 RBI, 29 SBs), SS Aurilia (.257, 15, 61), 2B Jeff Kent (.313, 37, 108, 102 runs), LF Bonds (.370, 46, 110, 117 runs), C Benito Santiago (.278, 16, 74), 1B J.T. Snow (.246, 6, 53), RF Reggie Sanders (.250, 23, 85), 3B David Bell (.261, 20, 73).
CARDINALS PROBABLE STARTER: Finley (11-15, 4.15 ERA). The left-hander pitched 6 1-3 scoreless innings in St. Louis' 2-1 victory over Arizona in Game 2 of the NL division series Oct. 3, allowing four hits and striking out seven. Finley has made two starts against the Giants in his career, going 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA against them.
GIANTS PROBABLE STARTING PITCHER: Ortiz (14-10, 3.61). The right-hander compiled a 2.19 ERA in his two division series wins despite walking eight in 12 1/3 combined innings. Ortiz is 1-3 with a 5.16 ERA in seven games, including six starts, against St. Louis in his career.
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: Cardinals, 4-2.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Cardinals -- 3B Miguel Cairo went 0-for-4 on Thursday after opening the postseason with seven hits in eight at-bats, including seven straight. ... CF Edmonds is 6-for-10 with a double and a home run in his career against RHP Ortiz. ... 2B Vina is 4-for-7 with a double and a homer against Ortiz, while C Matheny is 4-for-5 against the Giants starter. Giants -- LF Bonds has reached base in 14 of 30 plate appearances during the playoffs. ... CF Lofton, hitting .321 in this postseason, has hit .386 (17-for-44) against LHP Finley in his career. ... 2B Kent is 1-for-11 (.091) against Finley.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Cardinals -- 45-36 on the road in regular season, 2-0 in postseason. Giants -- 50-31 at home in regular season, 1-1 in postseason.
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"We love baseball not just because its a beautiful game, but because it was a game loved by those whom we loved.We love Ernie Harwell because he connected us to them." PAUL WARNER - ASSOCIATED PRESS
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