DREW ERASED: Benito Santiago, who took throw home from Kenny Lofton, tags out Cards’ J.D. Drew at plate for final out of third inning last night as Giants took 2-0 NLCS lead with 4-1 victory. - Reuters

October 11, 2002 -- ST. LOUIS - Just wait until Barry Bonds starts hitting home runs. Then the Cardinals will really be in trouble.

As it stands now there is more than enough trouble here in River City and Brooklyn kid Rich Aurilia provided most of it last night. The former St. John's star had Woody Williams' number and drilled two home runs to lead the Giants to a 4-1 victory over the staggering Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

When the game was over it was time for a high-five, not with his teammates but with his 1-year-old son Chaz. "I love you, buddy," Aurilia said as he hugged his child in a hallway outside the visiting clubhouse.

Now the Giants are hugging a 2-0 lead in the NLCS and can wrap it up at home, where the next three games are scheduled at Pac Bell Park.

Aurilia admitted he doesn't know much about the Giants' history in New York, "but hopefully we can add a little more history now," he said.

How's this for domination? There have been 18 innings played in this NLCS and the Giants have led for all 18. The Cardinals haven't sniffed a lead and right-hander Jason Schmidt was spectacular for the Wild Card men last night. He allowed only four hits and one run over 72/3 innings.

But the night belonged to Aurilia, one of the nicer guys in the game and one of the quiet leaders on the Giants the last five seasons.

Until last night, most fans probably hadn't noticed his accomplishments even though he made the All-Star team in 2001. Aurilia graduated from Xaverian High School in 1989 and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame three years ago. Two years ago Aurilia had his number retired by Our Lady of Grace League. Now there is more to brag about.

After Fightin' Kenny Lofton was booed and flied to right for the first out of the game, Aurilia drilled a 1-0 hanger into the left-field seats to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

All was quiet until the fifth when David Bell led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. After Lofton was again booed and struck out, Aurilia quieted the crowd with a 380-foot shot to the same spot in left on a 1-2 offering.

"It was the exact same spot, I think the same guy caught both balls," cracked Aurilia, who has overcome elbow woes that limited him to 15 homers this season after he blasted 37 two years ago.

With the glut of offensive-minded shortstops, Aurilia can be an afterthought. He's not Derek, Nomar or A-Rod, but he is one tremendous ballplayer. In 2001, he became the first shortstop to lead the NL in both home runs and RBI for three consecutive seasons.

Aurilia is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball, largely because Bonds overshadows him and his accomplishments are lost in the three-hour time difference between New York and the Left Coast. Now Aurilia, who came over from Texas for John Burkett on Christmas Eve, 1994, is on the October stage and is making the most of it.

Here is perhaps the most important number when you consider his worth: The Giants were a remarkable 82-46 this season with him in the lineup and 13-20 when he did not start.

That's what his game is all about - winning. And that's what the Giants have done this October, shocking first the Braves and now the Cardinals.