Redman Not Afraid of Bonds

If Florida left-hander Mark Redman has his druthers, Barry Bonds will see some strikes today.

“He’s just another guy up there with a bat,” Redman said Thursday.

Redman will face Bonds for the first time when the Marlins play the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of their playoff series, which is tied, 1-1.

“This is not a time to be intimidated by anyone,” Redman said. “I’m a guy that’s given the ball and supposed to throw strikes. If I need to walk the guy because I’m told to walk the guy, then I’ll walk the guy.”

Marlin Manager Jack McKeon has been reluctant to pitch to Bonds, who has had only about five pitches to hit in the first two games. He’s one for three with a double and five walks, three intentional.

Giant Manager Felipe Alou smiled when told of Redman’s comments.

“Hopefully Barry gets four or five at-bats Friday,” Alou said. “I’m not talking walks, but at-bats. I’m looking forward to see how it works.”

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The first two games of the series have shown the Giants how to beat the Marlins: Keep Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo off base.

San Francisco succeeded in Game 1, when Pierre and Castillo went a combined 0 for 8 as Jason Schmidt shut out Florida, 2-0.

But in Game 2, the Marlin rally-starters came to life. Pierre and Castillo totaled five hits, and the Marlins won, 9-5, to earn the split they wanted at Pacific Bell Park.

“The 1-2 guys have been the catalysts for our team,” McKeon said. “They get on base and raise havoc. They’re very important to our offense. Just look at our box scores.”

In Wednesday’s come-from-behind victory, Pierre went four for five with three runs, three RBIs and a stolen base. Castillo added a single and an RBI.

The duo jump-started an offense that totaled 15 hits and pressured the Giants into three uncharacteristic defensive lapses.

“If they get on, we’re going to score some runs,” McKeon said. “If they don’t get on, we’re in trouble.”

It’s been that way all season, and usually Pierre and Castillo get on. Pierre hit .305, scored 100 runs and led the major leagues with 65 steals. Castillo batted .314, scored 99 runs and had 21 steals.

“The speed they have -- you’re lucky to have one guy like that on a team,” Redman said. “We’re fortunate to have two.”

Shutting down the Pierre-Castillo combo the way Schmidt did is difficult. One or both reached base by hit, walk or hit batsman in all but six of the 151 regular-season games they started together.

“They remind me of the teams I grew up watching in St. Louis with Vince Coleman and Ozzie Smith and those guys,” said Kirk Rueter, who will start for the Giants today. “They’re very important to the Marlins’ success -- getting on base and causing havoc on the basepaths and letting their big guys come up and knock them in.”

While the Marlins are set at the top of the order, both clubs may tweak their lineup.

McKeon said he’ll decide today whether to start All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell, who has batted in only one game, Sunday’s regular-season finale, since his left hand was broken by a pitch Aug. 30. Lowell would replace rookie Miguel Cabrera, who is 0 for 8 with four strikeouts.

Alou said he might start 42-year-old Andres Galarraga at first base. He has 22 career homers against Florida.

“In this ballpark, Galarraga has hit a few bombs,” Alou said.