San Francisco, CA (My Sportsbook) - The San Francisco Giants will attempt to grab a commanding 3-0 advantage in the National League Championship Series this afternoon, when they battle the St. Louis Cardinals at Pac Bell Park.

San Francisco shocked the baseball world by taking the first two of this best- of-seven series on the road at Busch Stadium. The Giants have grabbed a 2-0 advantage in a playoff series for the first time since 1954. They have won five consecutive LCS contests, including their last three in 1989.

Shortstop Rich Aurilia was the Giants' offensive hero on Thursday in their 4-1 victory. He belted a pair of homers, knocking in three runs to pace them to the win. The infielder has already matched Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra for the most homers in one postseason (four) for a shortstop.

"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."

Jason Schmidt came up huge for the Giants in the victory, limiting the Cards to only four hits and one run over 7 2/3 frames. Schmidt fanned eight and walked just one in the winning effort. The twirler tossed 81 strikes and only 37 balls in the victory.

Robb Nen was solid in relief, surrendering just one hit over 1 1/3 frames for his fourth save of the playoffs. Nen was able to induce a double-play to end the contest.

St. Louis starter Woody Williams produced a yeoman's effort, holding the Giants to just six hits and three runs over six frames. Williams struck out seven and permitted one walk in the tough-luck defeat.

Pinch-hitter Eduardo Perez mustered the Cards' only run of the contest on a solo shot in the eighth inning. No Cardinal registered multiple hits in the losing effort.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa finds himself in a familiar place, as he has been down 2-0 in a playoff series more times than any other head man (four). La Russa's Cardinals will try to become only the third team to come back from an 0-2 deficit in the League Championship Series.

"In one sense, it's a perfect setup for us," La Russa said. "It's been a hard year, this has been a hard start."

The 1984 San Diego Padres and the 1985 Cardinals are the only other squads to recover from an 0-2 deficit. Seven teams prior to St. Louis have lost the first two contests of the LCS since it was changed to seven games in the mid-1980's, all of them have gone on to lose the series.

St. Louis will try to get back on the winning track with veteran lefthander Chuck Finley on the hill. Finley was outstanding against Arizona in his first start of the playoffs, allowing just four hits over 6 1/3 innings en route to a no-decision. The southpaw fanned seven and surrendered just two walks in the winning effort.

Finley did not face the Giants during the regular season, but does own a 1-1 mark with a 2.19 ERA versus them in his career. The 39-year-old has never pitched against San Francisco in the postseason.

Finley is still searching for his first career postseason victory, as he is 0-2 with a 3.17 ERA all-time. This will be his first LCS start, as he appeared in three games of the California Angels' ALCS in 1986 as a reliever. He gave up just one hit over two innings of relief in that set.

San Francisco will answer with red hot righthander Russ Ortiz on the mound. Ortiz won both of his starts in the NLDS against Atlanta, including his huge victory in Game 5. The 28-year-old allowed only nine hits and three runs over 12 1/3 frames of action against the Braves. He struck out eight and allowed eight free passes in the pair of victories.

Ortiz will be taking on the Cardinals for the first time in 2002. The Encino, CA native has struggled a bit against St. Louis in his career, going just 1-3 with a 5.16 ERA in six contests.

The righty has yet to lose in his postseason career, as he is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA. Besides this year's playoffs, Ortiz went 5 1/3 solid innings against New York during the 2000 NLDS.

San Francisco was very good at home during the regular season, going 50-31, while the Cardinals were 45-36 on the road. The Giants split a pair of home contests against Atlanta in the NLDS, while St. Louis won both of its road tilts versus Arizona.

The Cardinals won the regular season series between these two teams by a 4-2 margin. St. Louis won three of four meetings this season at Pac Bell Park with the Giants.