USATODAY.com - Aurilia provides the power for Giants
Classifieds Posted NaN/NaN/NaN NaN:NaN PM Updated 10/11/2002 6:30 AM
Aurilia provides the power for GiantsBy Chuck Johnson, USA TODAY
ST. LOUIS  San Francisco Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia is making up for a sluggish regular season with a slugging performance in the playoffs. Aurilia had a solo home run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth inning Thursday night in a 4-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. Rich Aurilia slugs a solo home run off Cardinals starter Woody Williams to get the Giants on the board in the second inning.
By Gary Brady, AP
This is the first time the Giants have won the first two games in their four appearances in the National League Championship Series. They're in prime position to build on that as the series shifts to San Francisco's Pacific Bell Park for Games 3 and 4 Saturday and Sunday, and Game 5 Monday, if necessary.
At St. Louis' Busch Stadium, a crowd of 52,195 was left frustrated and concerned. They had seen the Giants win a 9-6 slugfest in Wednesday's opener and watched right-hander Jason Schmidt give up four hits in 7 1/3 innings Thursday.
Schmidt, who lost both of his starts against the Cardinals in the regular season, held St. Louis scoreless before giving up a pinch-hit homer to Eduardo Perez in the eighth. He struck out eight and walked one.
Likewise, Aurilia has made a reversal. In the regular season, he hit .257 with 15 homers and 61 RBI — a precipitous drop from last year when he clubbed 37 homers with 97 RBI and batted .324. But fortunes have turned upward again for Aurilia in the playoffs. His seven RBI led the Giants in the division series against Atlanta, and he now has four homers this postseason, one more than Barry Bonds for the team lead. Keys to victory Return is spoiled: St. Louis Cardinals RHP Woody Williams makes his first start since Sept. 20. He had been recovering from a pulled muscle in his side. And while he doesn't look too rusty  despite being limited to 17 starts this season  the San Francisco Giants are able to exploit his two mistakes. Bad location: Williams yields two homers to Rich Aurilia on middle-of-the plate pitches up in the zone. Each pitch ends its journey in the same area of the stands in center. Great throw, great tag: Here's the setup: Third inning, two runners in scoring position, one out. Cards leadoff man Fernando Vina flies to mid-center. Center fielder Kenny Lofton positions himself to throw in stride. His quick release and accurate throw nail speedy J.D. Drew on a good tag by catcher Benito Santiago. A 1-0 San Francisco lead is preserved, and St. Louis fans get another reason to resent Lofton. As advertised: When RHP Jason Schmidt came up in the Atlanta system, he was often billed as another John Smoltz. The reason becomes apparent, with his 97 mph fastball, tough splitter and good location. And since this is the postseason, Smoltz's favorite showcase, the comparison is even more apt. Schmidt overpowers tough Cards lineup. By Rod Beaton Both of Aurilia's blasts Thursday night came off Cardinals right-hander Woody Williams, who hadn't pitched since Sept. 20 because of a sore muscle in his left side. Williams allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
J.T. Snow tripled in the ninth and scored the Giants' final run on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Ramon Martinez.
Kenny Lofton, who homered and had three hits in Game 1, was again a thorn in the Cardinals' side, this time defensively. In the fifth, he caught Fernando Vina's shallow fly to center and threw to catcher Benito Santiago for an inning-ending double-play.