GIANTS/MARLINS Schmidt's nine-inning effort caps duel with Florida's Beckett

The former Pirate had San Francisco's first postseason shutout since Dave Dravecky in 1987.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Juan Pierre thought the Florida Marlins got hit by a bus.
Derrek Lee thought it was the best game pitched against his team all year.
For Jason Schmidt, his latest gem was just another dominating performance in a breakthrough season by San Francisco's 17-game winner with the National League's lowest ERA.
Schmidt pitched the Giants' first playoff shutout in 16 years, throwing a three-hitter for a 2-0 victory over the Marlins in Game 1 Tuesday.
Gained confidence
"Once spring training started, I was ready to roll this year," said Schmidt, who has gradually gained confidence since coming to the Giants from Pittsburgh two years ago. "I couldn't wait to get back here again."
Schmidt outdueled Josh Beckett while Barry Bonds and the Giants took advantage of a costly error by fill-in Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera to score the go-ahead run.
After retiring Lee on a grounder for the final out, Schmidt twirled on one leg before his teammates surrounded him in celebration.
"He's just awesome to watch," reliever Scott Eyre said.
At 68, Felipe Alou wound up a winner while managing his first postseason game and 72-year-old Jack McKeon lost in his playoff debut, then couldn't get to the interview room because fans grabbed at his jacket and hat while he worked his way down a crowded hallway.
Game 2 in the best-of-five NL series is Wednesday.
Pitching to Bonds
Bonds barely had two feet in the batter's box when catcher Ivan Rodriguez's glove shot out to signal an intentional walk, showing just how serious the Marlins were about not getting beat by Bonds.
Instead, they beat themselves with one bad throw.
Bonds wound up 0-for-1 with three walks. Chad Fox intentionally walked Bonds with nobody on base in the eighth, and he came around to score on Edgardo Alfonzo's double. When Bonds was intentionally walked in the first, the crowd of 43,704 began booing lustily.
On a day the teams combined for only six hits, the Giants scored their first run on a misplay.
Cabrera, starting in place of injured All-Star Mike Lowell, charged in on Alfonzo's fourth-inning bunt and made a wild throw to first. By the time the ball had stopped it was in the bullpen dirt and Rich Aurilia was headed for home.
After Alex Gonzalez reached on an error in the fifth, Schmidt retired the final 14 batters. Schmidt walked none and struck out five.
"We just ran into a bus over there," Pierre said. "He had almost no pressure. He was pitching out of the windup almost all day. We couldn't get him into the stretch today."
Schmidt, the NL starter in the All-Star game, has shown tremendous resolve since his mother's death in April. On Tuesday, he pitched the first postseason shutout for the Giants since Boardman's Dave Dravecky beat St. Louis in Game 2 of the 1987 NL championship series.
About Beckett
Beckett was almost as impressive in his playoff debut. He gave up two hits in seven innings, striking out nine and walking five. He struck out five straight during one stretch.
Before Bonds' fourth-inning at-bat, Beckett huddled on the mound with Rodriguez and pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal -- certainly discussing how to approach him this time around.
Beckett challenged Bonds all right.
Here's how it went: A 97 mph fastball, strike one. Outside, ball one. Low and in, ball two. Foul, strike two. High, ball three. Low, ball four. And Bonds was aboard again while McKeon barked about plate umpire John Hirschbeck's strike zone.
FLORIDASAN FRAN
abrhbiabrhbi
Pierre cf4000Drham 2b4010
LCstillo 2b4000Snow 1b4000
IRdrgz c4010Aurilia ss3100
DeLee 1b4000Bonds lf1100
Cbrera 3b3000Alfonzo 3b4021
JEcrcn rf3010BStiago c4000
Conine lf3010Grssom cf2000
AGnzlz ss3000JoCruz rf2000
Beckett p1000Schmdt p3000
Hlndsw ph1000
CFox p0000
Totals30030Totals27231
Florida000000000--0
San Francisco00010001x--2
E--Cabrera (1), Snow (1), Aurilia (1). LOB--Florida 4, San Francisco 7. 2B--Alfonzo (1). SB--Bonds (1). S--Beckett.
IPHRERBBSO
Florida
Beckett L,0-1721159
CFox111110
San Francisco
Schmidt W,1-0930005
WP--Beckett. Umpires--Home, John Hirschbeck; First, Bill Miller; Second, Brian Gorman; Third, Larry Young; Left, Ed Rapuano; Right, Mark Wegner. T--2:33. A--43,704.