Ex-Pirates ace Schmidt blanks Bucs in Pac Bell

The Giants' leader retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Though Jason Schmidt's newfound confidence has played a big role in his stellar season, he believes his success isn't all in his head. Some of it is behind him.
"Good defense makes a pitcher look pretty good," Schmidt said. "Sometimes I just lay one in there and let him hit it as hard as he can, and they track it down. It's great."
Schmidt won his fourth straight start with seven innings of four-hit ball, and Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run single as the San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 Tuesday night.
Schmidt (12-4) made quick work of his former teammates, retiring 16 of the first 18 hitters he faced while improving to 7-1 with a 1.80 ERA since June 19.
He struck out three and didn't walk a batter -- and his teammates made several big plays to support his victory, from Cruz's running catch in the visiting bullpen to end the sixth, to the infield's game-ending double play to rescue closer Tim Worrell.
Improved defense
Schmidt still throws much of the same stuff he had during parts of six seasons with the Pirates, but there are many differences: the defense and hitting of an improved supporting cast, a solid bullpen and improved health.
But according to those who know the Giants' ace best, it all comes down to Schmidt's mental approach.
"The thing that's different now is he's got confidence in his stuff, confidence he didn't have in the past," said Giants reliever Jason Christiansen, Schmidt's teammate in Pittsburgh for five seasons. "He's a guy that you look at, and he just exudes confidence now. He's got everything it takes to be a dominant pitcher."
After throwing 60 of his 80 pitches for strikes, he felt stiff after pitching the seventh and asked to come out.
"It's just the time of year when you want to be careful and make sure [the stiffness] I had doesn't re-occur," Schmidt said. "I was trying to do what I've done all year: stay out of jams and keep the ball over the plate."
Dominant
Schmidt has won three of his four starts against the Pirates since they traded him two years ago.
"He's the same guy," Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Before he was traded, he had won six starts. He wasn't a great discovery. He's the same, and he's been on a roll ever since he was traded."
J.T. Snow had an RBI single, and newcomer Cody Ransom scored two runs as San Francisco won for the 13th time in its last 14 games at Pacific Bell Park.
Christiansen struck out two batters in the eighth, but Worrell loaded the bases in the ninth before Jack Wilson grounded into a game-ending double play for his 24th save in 28 chances.
Wells loses
Pittsburgh's Kip Wells (5-5), who had won three straight decisions, allowed six hits and three walks over seven innings.
But his performance wasn't as sharp as his previous start in San Francisco last season, when he allowed Barry Bonds' 600th homer but still got a 4-3 victory.
"After they got that first run [in the third inning], I knew I had to put zeros up there," Wells said. "But they got two more. Schmidt's a guy that will be more aggressive when he has the lead like that."
Cruz, making a rare appearance in the leadoff spot, snapped a 3-for-40 slump with a line drive single in the fourth, scoring Benito Santiago and Ransom.