Brown Has Been Tough on Giants

Kevin Brown rewarded Florida Marlin Manager Jim Leyland for naming him as the starting pitcher in the organization’s first postseason game, pitching seven strong innings Tuesday in Florida’s 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Pro Player Stadium.

But nothing Brown does against the Giants is surprising.

Brown, 16-8 with a 2.69 earned-run average this season, is 4-0 in his career against San Francisco. He pitched a no-hitter June 10 at 3Com Park and began the game with an 0.61 ERA against the Giants.

“I don’t know what it is about them,” said Brown, who had a perfect game through 4 2/3 innings Tuesday. “I just always seem to pitch well against the Giants, although I really can’t pinpoint one thing. But I sure don’t want to stop doing it.”

*

GIANTS’ SHAWN ESTES

(19-5, 3.18 ERA)

vs.

MARLINS’ AL LEITER

(11-9, 4.34 ERA)

Pro Player Stadium, 1 p.m. PDT

TV--ESPN

* Update--Marlin Manager Jim Leyland strongly considered starting Alex Fernandez in Game 2 but chose Leiter because the left-hander is much better at home (6-2, 2.28 ERA) than on the road (5-7, 6.37 ERA) and Game 3 is in San Francisco. Left-hander Estes is the Giant ace, but he said Tuesday his pitching shoulder is sore.