Drama Begins

Newcomers that they are, the Florida Marlins have a lot to learn about the nuances of baseball’s postseason.

Every game isn’t a classic, and every outcome won’t produce celebratory group hugs and screams of joy. But for now, let the fifth-year Marlins have their fun.

Treating their fans to baseball the way it can be, the Marlins defeated the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, Tuesday in the franchise’s first playoff game on a two-out, bases-loaded, ninth-inning single by shortstop Edgar Renteria.

Renteria’s single to right against Roberto Hernandez drove in Charles Johnson from third base with the winning run, sparking frenzied celebrations on the field and in the crowd of 42,167 at Pro Player Stadium. It also gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five division series with Game 2 here today.

As opening acts go, this one was a show-stopper.

“Just a great matchup, a great playoff game,” Marlin Manager Jim Leyland said. “Great pitching, great execution. We played well, and so did they. It was just one of those games.”

One that had a little bit of everything--including the right man at the plate for the Marlins at the right time. Renteria’s hit off Hernandez, whose fastball was clocked as fast as 98 mph during the decisive confrontation, was his seventh game-winner of the season, giving the Marlins 25 victories in their final at-bat.

Through an interpreter, Renteria, a native of Colombia, spoke emotionally about the biggest hit in Marlin history.

“This is the greatest feeling of my life,” said Renteria, who was carried off the field by teammates. “To be in a situation like that is wonderful. But to have what happened to me at the end of the game . . . yes, this is the greatest situation of my life.”

The other Marlins seemed to view it that way as well.

“This is very significant from a lot of standpoints,” said Marlin starter Kevin Brown, who continued his dominance of the Giants with seven strong innings.

“You want to go out and win this thing as quickly as you can, so it’s important we got the first win. But it’s also important for our organization and for the fans here in South Florida. I mean, if you can’t get excited about this, you’re not breathing.”

Judging by the crowd’s reaction, Marlin fans were alive and well. They were given a treat throughout, beginning with a pitching duel between Brown and Giant starter Kirk Rueter.

Each pitched seven innings, giving up solo home runs for the only scoring. Bill Mueller’s homer in the top of the seventh gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. The Marlins tied the score on Johnson’s homer in the bottom of the inning.

“I breathed a sigh of relief when C.J. hit that,” Brown said. “It was a big boost for all of us.”

Jeff Conine opened the ninth with a single to left against Julian Tavarez, who had relieved Rueter in the eighth. Tavarez had pitched a scoreless eighth, working out of a jam by getting Moises Alou to bounce into a double play.

But after giving up the hit to Conine and hitting Johnson with a pitch, Tavarez (0-1) was relieved by Hernandez. Facing Hernandez, Craig Counsell laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt.

“Great execution by Counsell,” Leyland said. “He goes up there and comes through with a perfect two-strike bunt against a guy throwing 98 [mph]. That’s not so easy to do.”

Then Leyland and Giant Manager Dusty Baker, two of the game’s best, matched wits some more. Leyland sent in left-handed batter Jim Eisenreich to hit for reliever Dennis Cook (1-0), who pitched two scoreless innings.

The right-handed Hernandez intentionally walked Eisenreich and the move seemed to pay off when Devon White hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Conine at home for the second out. Up came Renteria.

Although Renteria has been Mr. Clutch for the Marlins, Leyland said he wasn’t overconfident about the outcome.

“You’re never too happy whenever Hernandez faces anyone in that situation,” Leyland said. “But if we had to have anyone up there, he was the guy we wanted because he’s done it so many times before.”

On a 2-and-0 count, Hernandez threw a fastball that Renteria smacked into right field to produce another Marlin first. But the Giants aren’t big on history.

“They got this one, but this club has bounced back all season long after tough losses,” Baker said. “We’ll forget about this and we’ll be back.”