(My Sportsbook) - Barry Bonds has his sights set on his first-ever World Series appearance, but the St. Louis Cardinals stand in the San Francisco Giants' way as the two teams prepare to tangle in the 2002 National League Championship Series.

Bonds, a notorious underachiever in the postseason, came up big on Monday with a pair of hits, including a home run, to lead the Giants to a 3-1 victory in a fifth and deciding game of the NL Division Series against the favored Atlanta Braves. Bonds' fourth-inning home run -- his third of the series -- proved to be the game-winner.

"I must admit, I'm a little bit shocked," said Bonds after the win. "I've never been past the first round. I don't know how to respond. Should I be happy or just sit here?"

The All-Star leftfielder entered the five-game series against Atlanta with a .196 batting average, one homer and six runs batted in for his career in the playoffs. However, he exorcised his playoff demons, for now, by hitting .294 with three home runs, four RBI and five runs scored in the first round.

"I prayed Barry would have a great series, and a great series he did," gushed San Francisco skipper Dusty Baker after Monday's victory. "He hit the ball a lot harder than the numbers indicate. I'm very glad for him."

While most of the attention focuses around Bonds, the Giants were far from a one-man show in the opening round. Russ Ortiz earned a pair of wins; playoff warrior Livan Hernandez turned in a gem in Game 4 to keep the Giants alive; and the lineup, specifically Kenny Lofton, Rich Aurilia and Benito Santiago, came up with clutch hits in crucial situations.

Lofton, a year after batting just .105 for the Cleveland Indians in their AL Division Series loss to the Seattle Mariners, compiled a .350 average with a team-leading seven hits and five runs scored versus Atlanta. His ability to make things happen at the top of the lineup will be a factor in determining whether Bonds plays a significant role in this series.

Santiago, meanwhile, batted only .238 in the Division Series, but he did knock home five runs. In Game 1 of the NLDS, with Jeff Kent on second base and two outs, the Braves elected to walk Bonds intentionally and take their chances against the 37-year-old Santiago. The veteran catcher came through, ripping a double to right-center field that plated both runners.

"That's how we've been playing all season," said outfielder Reggie Sanders, who hit .222 with one RBI in the Division Series. "You just haven't noticed it. We're hot."

The Giants are indeed hot. Down the stretch, they went 25-8 in their final 33 games to finish with a 95-66 record and earn the NL's wild card spot. Ortiz is a big reason the Giants are still alive, as the righthander is 8-0 in his last eight starts.

After defeating the Braves once during the regular season, Ortiz earned the nod in Game 1 at Turner Field and turned in seven innings of five-hit, two-run ball. With the series on the line on Monday, the 28-year-old hurler outdueled Kevin Millwood, permitting one run on four hits over 5 1/3 frames, to help San Francisco advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 1989.

"I just thought, don't let the big guys beat you and don't let any guys up in front of them on base so they could drive them in," explained Ortiz, who is the first Giant since Hall-of-Famer Carl Hubbell in 1933 to win two games in the same postseason series. "We kept the big innings at bay."

Although Ortiz is considered the top starter on the Giants, he is not likely to take the rubber before Game 3 on Saturday. If Baker sticks to the rotation he used in the Division Series, Ortiz would start Game 4 on Sunday at Pac Bell Park, with Hernandez pitching on Saturday.

What is known is the first two starters of the best-of-seven series. Veteran Kirk Rueter will take the mound in Game 1 at Busch Stadium, despite his poor outing in the second game of the NLDS. At Turner Field, with the Giants ahead in the series, 1-0, Rueter was knocked around for seven runs -- six earned -- on seven hits over three innings as San Francisco suffered a 7-3 setback. He walked two and struck out one, while giving up a pair of home runs.

That said, Rueter experienced some success earlier this year versus St. Louis, tossing 7 1/3 innings and permitting two runs -- both unearned -- on six hits at Pac Bell Park on July 24. For his career, the lefthander is an impressive 9-3 against the Cardinals with a 2.72 ERA, including 5-0 with a 2.28 earned run average at Busch Stadium.

Jason Schmidt will follow Rueter. Schmidt did not fare well against Atlanta in Game 3, surrendering four runs on three hits over 5 1/3 frames in a 10-2 loss. He struggled with his control, throwing 103 pitches and walking four.

Hernandez, meanwhile, is 6-0 lifetime in the postseason, including 2-0 with a 0.84 earned run average in a pair of outings -- one start -- in the NLCS. He was the MVP of the 1997 World Series while a member of the Florida Marlins and is not short on confidence.

"I never lose in October," said Hernandez before beating the Braves in Game 4 with 8 1/3 innings of eight-hit, three-run ball. "I'll try to continue. I like the big games."

Morris will open the series for the Cards, who went 4-2 versus the Giants this season. The righthander toed the hill in Game 1 of the Division Series at Bank One Ballpark and earned the win after allowing a pair of runs -- one earned -- on seven hits in seven innings of work.

The 28-year-old Morris has pitched well in the postseason over the last two years, going 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA in three starts -- all against the D'backs.

If all goes well, Woody Williams could be on the mound for Game 2. Williams was not on the active roster for the NL Division Series because of a strained muscle in his left side. Either he or veteran lefthander Chuck Finley, who won Game 2 of the NLDS with 6 1/3 scoreless innings of four-hit ball, will get the nod on Thursday, with the other starting Game 3.

Williams received an injection on Sunday to ease the pain of his side before throwing for manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan. Signs would point to the righthander starting Game 2, seeing as how he is 8-2 with a 2.29 earned run average during his career at Busch Stadium.

"The way I felt yesterday and the way I feel today, I feel I could pitch in one of the first games," Williams told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "But with the contributions so many have made, there are a number of guys who are more than qualified to pitch if I can't. It's a hit-or-miss-type deal."

Rather than attempt to use Morris on short rest for Games 4 and 7, LaRussa has decided to give the ball on Sunday to Andy Benes. If Williams is unable to go, rookie Jason Simontacchi will slide into the rotation.

More pressing than Williams' situation is whether Scott Rolen will able to help the Cardinals in this series. Rolen was injured in Game 2 of the Division Series and may not be able to return until the World Series, if the Cardinals make it that far.

"You don't want to try to fool anybody and say he's not an important player and he won't be missed," explained LaRussa. "Because that really disrespects him and he's an outstanding player. On the other side, the team has to really believe that's part of the game. It's part of the game, and it's an opportunity for somebody to step up."

That somebody could be a variety of players. When Rolen was forced to sit out Game 3 of the NLDS against the D'backs after suffering multiple sprains of his left shoulder in the Game 2 victory at Bank One Ballpark, Miguel Cairo stepped in and went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI.

The Cardinals may also opt to move Albert Pujols to third -- his original spot on the diamond -- and play Eli Marrero in left field. However, Pujols does not appear comfortable at third and Marrero is 0-for-17 in his career during the postseason.

"I think Albert is more comfortable in left," said LaRussa. "You want his bat to be a big factor. He doesn't need the extra responsibility. And Eli has been a little streaky. He's made huge improvements [this year] but right now, he's coming off a couple of balls."

If the Cardinals hit as well as they did against the Diamondbacks, they may not miss Rolen. In the three-game sweep, St. Louis scored 20 runs and batted .314 with three homers.

The success of the lineup starts with leadoff hitter Fernando Vina, who hit .600 (9-for-15) with three runs scored. He began the first two games at Bank One Ballpark by reaching base -- once via an error and once with a single -- and was right in the middle of two rallies in Game 3 that helped the Cardinals turn a two-run deficit into a 6-3 victory.

"You always want to be confident," explained the 33-year-old Vina, who owns a .357 lifetime batting average in the playoffs. "As a leadoff hitter the weight is on your shoulders to try to get something going for the ballclub."

Looking at this series, it appears to be very even on most fronts. St. Louis was second in runs scored during the regular season with 787, while the Giants finished third with 783. San Francisco compiled the second-best team ERA in the Senior Circuit at 3.54, while the Cards were fourth at 3.70.

The bullpens are almost a wash, with a slight edge to the Cardinals. In all, I think this will be a very entertaining series that St. Louis pulls out in the end. I like the Cardinals' confidence, especially after beating up Arizona's pitching staff they way they did in the Division Series.

Prediction: Cardinals in seven.