NL DIVISION PLAYOFFS Marlins even series with Giants

Juan Pierre had four hits including a bases loaded double in the 9-5 win.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Juan Pierre got a pep talk from veteran Lenny Harris, then came out swinging. Florida's leadoff hitter made a big statement in the process.
Juan Encarnacion homered and Pierre wound up with a bases-loaded double on a misplay by Jose Cruz Jr. in a decisive three-run sixth as Florida rallied to beat San Francisco 9-5 Wednesday, tying the NL division series at one game.
After Jason Schmidt shut down the Marlins on Tuesday, the 38-year-old Harris let Pierre know he was pressing and needed to settle down and find a groove.
"He gives me a pep talk every day," said Pierre, who had four hits in Game 2 after going 0-for-4 in the opener. "It felt good to get that first hit."
Giants dominated regular season
Pierre said before the series started that the Giants hadn't yet seen the Marlins at their best. San Francisco won five of six meetings during the regular season.
Pierre led a 15-hit effort, a day after Florida was held to just three. The Marlins overcame a three-run deficit in the fifth.
"A lot of people doubted this team and thought we couldn't win," said Harris, who had a pinch-hit single in the sixth. "We showed them a little something -- that we're not afraid of them."
The Marlins got the split they so desperately needed at Pac Bell Park, and did it by getting away from the small ball that sent them on this improbable playoff journey.
After Barry Bonds helped the Giants take an early lead, Sidney Ponson couldn't hold it.
Carl Pavano, the winning pitcher when Florida clinched the wild card, earned another important victory by getting two outs.
"It was just a weird day," Giants first baseman J.T. Snow said. "They are a good team. There's a reason they are here. When you get to this point in the year, there's no quit in anybody."
Keep Bonds under control
Most of all, Florida kept Bonds from doing major damage. Rookie Dontrelle Willis, the Marlins' probable Game 4 starter, did his part by relieving in the eighth and retiring Bonds on a foul pop.
After Bonds doubled to drive in a run in the first, he was walked twice.
Bonds made a sliding catch in left field and hustled home from first base on Edgardo Alfonzo's double, nearly catching teammate Rich Aurilia, who had gone back to second to tag up in case the ball was caught.
On Pierre's fly ball in the sixth, Cruz slipped where the grass meets the warning track and the ball flew over him.
"I stepped on a mud patch and slipped there," he said. "It was a difficult wind, the shadows, the fog. I don't think we've played in those conditions before."
Snow also let a ball roll through his legs, setting up a run for the Marlins, and center fielder Marquis Grissom let a line drive bounce off his glove.
Losing pitcher Joe Nathan, a 12-game winner as a reliever this year, was tagged for three runs on four hits in the sixth, with Encarnacion's shot tying it at 5. Jeff Conine, Alex Gonzalez and Harris all singled and Jason Christiansen relieved.
Christiansen immediately gave up the crazy double to Pierre.
Conine's groundout in the seventh made it 8-5. Pierre scored an unearned run in the eighth on the error by Grissom.
Giants led 5-4
The Giants took a 5-4 lead in the fifth after pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz tripled and scored on Snow's single. Then, the Marlins began their comeback.
The man who bats behind Bonds -- Alfonzo -- has become a big focus in this series. Alfonzo is 4-for-8 in two games and hit a two-run double in the fourth.
Bonds made impressive diving, sliding grab on a line drive by Alex Gonzalez in the second.
FLORIDASAN FRAN
abrhbiabrhbi
Pierre cf5343Drham 2b4110
LCstillo 2b5011Snow 1b5011
IRdrgz c4011Aurilia ss4110
DeLee 1b5111Bonds lf2111
Cbrera 3b5000Alfonzo 3b4122
Looper p0000BStiago c3010
Urbina p0000Grssom cf4001
JEcrcn rf4111JoCruz rf4000
Conine lf5221Ponson p1000
AGnzlz ss5110Feliz ph1110
Penny p1010Nathan p0000
Hlndsw ph1110Chrstns p0000
Helling p0000Herges p0000
Pavano p0000Hmnds ph1000
LHarrs ph1010FRdgez p0000
CFox p0000Brower p0000
BBanks ph1000Worrell p0000
Willis p0000NPerez ph1000
Lowell 3b0000
Totals429148Totals34585
Florida100033110--9
San Francisco100310000--5
E--Snow (2), Grissom (1). DP--San Francisco 1. LOB--Florida 8, San Francisco 6. 2B--Pierre (1), Bonds (1), Alfonzo (2). 3B--Feliz (1). HR--JEncarnacion (1). SB--Pierre (1). S--BSantiago.
IPHRERBBSO
Florida
Penny444415
Helling1-321120
Pavano W,1-0 2-300000
CFox200002
Willis1-320000
Looper2-300000
Urbina100000
San Francisco
Ponson574403
Nathan L,0-1 1-343301
Christiansen010000
Herges2-300000
FRodriguez111010
Brower111011
Worrell100000
Christiansen pitched to 1 batter in the 6th. WP--Ponson. Umpires--Home, Bill Miller; First, Brian Gorman; Second, Larry Young; Third, Ed Rapuano; Left, Mark Wegner; Right, John Hirschbeck. T--3:06. A--43,766.