SAN FRANCISCO -- Bronson Arroyo had never won in San Francisco before pitching a playoff masterpiece. There were all kinds of memorable firsts this weekend for the gutsy Cincinnati Reds, who beat the San Francisco Giants 9-0 on Sunday night to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their NL division series -- and head home to Ohio on quite a roll. Ryan Ludwick hit his first post-season home run and Ryan Hanigan drove in his first playoff run. More than anything on this night, it was Arroyos turn to celebrate on what he figured to be a fun flight back to Cincinnati. "We couldnt put ourselves in a better situation," he said. "It doesnt mean youre going to close it out, but for us personally, I know the fans are going to be as jacked as they have ever been in that ballpark since it has been built, which is going to be nice." Arroyo, who was winless in his first six starts in San Francisco, retired his first 14 batters and delivered a gem a day after 19-game winner Johnny Cueto went down with a back injury. A pair of Ryans provided the big hits. Ludwick connected leading off the second inning for his first career playoff homer and Hanigan hit a two-run single in the fourth and a later RBI single. Jay Bruce added a two-run double and Joey Votto had three hits in his first multihit post-season game. "Coming on the road, you think about getting one as a success and victory," Bruce said. "To be able come here and get two is very important." Former San Francisco skipper Dusty Baker came into his old stomping grounds by the bay and left with two commanding victories 10 years after managing the Giants within six outs of a World Series title before falling short. He walked through the hallway afterward greeting cheering fans with smiles, high-fives, hugs, waves and even a few hang-loose signs. "We still love you, Dusty!" one woman yelled. Many fans didnt stick around until the end to see the Giants get handed their worst playoff shutout in franchise history. Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. Homer Bailey (13-10), who pitched a no-hitter Sept. 28 at Pittsburgh, takes the mound as the Reds try to close out the series against Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (14-9). The Reds won their first playoff game in 17 years by taking Game 1 without their ace Saturday night, and now theyre going back home looking for their own sweep after the Phillies eliminated them in a frustrating three-game first round two years ago. "Youre not comfortable at all until its over," Baker said. "Weve been there before. Its hard to take the last breath out of anything." The Reds will try for their first post-season sweep since beating the Dodgers in the first round in 1995. Cincinnati got swept in the NL championship series that year by Atlanta to start what became a seven-game post-season losing streak before Saturdays win. The shaggy-haired Arroyo, the right-hander with that high leg kick slightly resembling the familiar motion of Giants Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, went untouched before Brandon Belts two-out single to the gap in right-centre with two out in the fifth. San Francisco didnt get another hit until Pablo Sandoval lined a double off the right-field arcade with two outs in the ninth. "You hate to get beat like that, especially at home," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It happened. We know where were at right now. We know our backs are to the wall. ... Theyve done a great job all year bouncing back." The 35-year-old Arroyo worked ahead and had four straight strikeouts during one stretch to baffle the Giants. Arroyos seven innings marked his longest post-season outing in five starts and 13 appearances -- and he couldnt have picked a better moment to do it. Cueto threw all of eight pitches in Saturdays 5-2 win before leaving with back spasms, and Mat Latos and a patchwork pitching staff handled the rest. Baker said he picked Arroyo for Game 2 here in part because the righty is susceptible to giving up home runs after he allowed 26 this year. And AT&T Park is "one of the most forgiving ballparks in baseball." Arroyo thoroughly outpitched Madison Bumgarner to beat the Giants for the first time since 2008. He had gone 0-2 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts since, getting two no-decisions facing San Francisco this season. And he took the hard-luck loss in Game 2 against the Phillies in 2010 as the victim of a blown save. Boy did he give the bullpen a break with this one. Baker might have left him in longer had it not been a long inning before. "A no-hitter in this type of environment is nearly impossible," Arroyo said. "A win for the ballclub is the pinnacle, nirvana." Cincinnati beat San Franciscos two best pitchers on their home field. Matt Cain lost Game 1. Bumgarner had pitched a one-hitter June 28 against the Reds at home, but was nothing close to that dominant this time. The last time Baker managed in a playoff setup like this season -- with the higher seed opening on the road for the first two games -- he was on the other end. In 1997, while managing the favoured Giants, San Francisco lost the first two games in Florida and the Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the NL division series at Candlestick Park en route to the World Series title. Baker has felt good about these Reds all along, even more so after recently missing 11 games while recovering from a mini-stroke, including when they clinched the NL Central. "Hes kind of the heartbeat of this team," Bruce said. "To have him back for the last series and starting the playoffs, especially in San Francisco, where he obviously has a ton of history and is a storied manager here, its good. It gives us a vibe thats pretty easy to play for." He is getting contributions from throughout his lineup and a ready-for-anything pitching staff. On Saturday, it was Brandon Phillips with three hits and a two-run homer and Bruce with a solo shot. The Reds added on late in Game 2 against the Giants typically reliable bullpen with Bruces eighth-inning double, a run-scoring triple from Drew Stubbs and an RBI single by Phillips. Ludwick, who came in just 1 for 16 against Bumgarner, silenced the orange towel-waving sellout crowd of 43,505 AT&T Park in a hurry when he sent the first pitch of the second inning over the centre-field wall. The Reds sure made the Giants pitcher friendly ballpark feel longball friendly the way they hit in these two games. Many of the fans quickly made for the exits after the Reds went ahead 6-0 on Bruces two-run double in the eighth. "We need to go to their place and play aggressive and try to change the momentum," Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro said. "Keep fighting, you never know whats going to happen. Their momentum is really good right now." Tim Lincecum entered in relief for the Giants in the top of the sixth trailing 4-0. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, whose rocky season kept him out of the playoff rotation, pumped his fist after striking out Hanigan to end the sixth before a scoreless seventh. NOTES: Arroyo had never gone six innings in the post-season before Sunday. ... San Francisco was shut out six times during the regular season, tied for second-fewest in the NL with Philadelphia. ... Cueto returned to Cincinnati along with Bailey. ... 2010 World Series MVP Edgar Renteria threw out the ceremonial first pitch and stopped by the clubhouse. "Im very touched," he said. 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Winless in 46 starts on the 50-and-over tour, the 52-year-old Glasson had a 13-under 131 total. He won seven times on the PGA Tour in an injury-plagued career marked by more than 20 surgeries. Glasson birdied three of the last five holes after dropping a shot on the par-4 13th.Hope you had a nice weekend watching NBA hoops. Now were into the thick of it with the second round of action. Better teams should equal better games, fingers crossed. Here are a few quick thoughts. 1. Kevin Garnett (Celtics): Dont be talking any junk about this man! Wow! Fired up and producing. Hes playing lights out right now and the fact that Doc Rivers is using him at the five spot and forcing folks to match his smaller lineup has really helped KGs game at this stage of his career. Hes a tough guy to cover for opposing fives due to his face up ability and solid quickness at that position. His versatile perimeter skills force you to stretch your defensive coverages to him and his length allows him to get away with giving up size, while still being able to stand his ground defensively. Game 1 with the Sixers was an intense, fiery affair and thats right up KGs alley. Fun to watch him right now. 2. Jeremy Lin (Knicks, Restricted Free Agent): Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News wrote this weekend that the Toronto Raptors may have an interest in him in the open market this summer. I wouldnt rule anything out this off-season with the Raptors. I think theyll be very assertive/strategic in their approach and youll see a different cast of characters next season thats for sure. Can Lin play? Yes. Is he a starting point guard on a winning team? Only time will tell. Young player whose got a nice feel for the game and should improve. He knows how to run a team, thats for sure. Must improve his stamina and get a lot stronger. His handle has to tighten up considerably and the turnover numbers have to lessen. Can he do it? Sure. Steve Nashs name will be out there as well. It wiill be a fun summer for Raptors fans with their franchise poised to make moves that will be the critical steps to the turnaround of the teams fortunes. Draft picks, trades, cap space, amnesty provision -- lots of possible moves that will lead to a different and better team next year. 3. LeBron James (Heat): Congrats on MVP number three! Well-earned and well-deserved. He had a terrific year and what a performance on Sunday versus the Pacers in Game 1. His play in the second half was complete and with a purpose.dddddddddddd Too often we take what this guy can do for granted and focus on what he hasnt done yet. Put him in any era of the NBA and hed be one of, if not the best players of that era. I know he hasnt won yet but if he keeps up this tear, hell have more than one when its all said and done. Nobodys better in the league right now. Now hes got to do it with consistency the next six weeks. Youre defined by your elite level performance in the most meaningful games. The spotlight will grow brighter as we move along and he looks even better prepared to handle it. 4. Clippers vs. Spurs (Spurs in Six): Spurs on a roll with great balance, defense, role definition and theyre on a mission. Clippers are feeling really good (as they should) about themselves right now with their stirring victory in Round 1 over the Grizzlies. Bottom line: Confidence is high in both camps, but I just have this feeling that the Spurs are more solid, stable and consistent throughout games. Wonderful point guard matchup with Chris Paul and Tony Parker. It will be a classic, as both were sensational this season. I just look at this series and my gut tells me the Spurs were very fortunate to avoid the Grizzlies again and this is a better match up for them and they will prevail. 5. Lakers vs. Thunder (Thunder in Six): Tempo is crucial in this series. Thunder must get out and run the Lakers as much as possible. Force the Lakers hand and make them match you at times in small ball with Kevin Durant at the four spot if need be. Lakers must dominate inside and Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum must come to play each-and-every night. Thunder impressed me with their poise/composure closing the deal versus the Mavs and dont think theyll get rattled in this series either. They appear ready to take the next step as a team. Great test dealing with Kobe and company. Lakers defense on the road has been disappointing and they must generate better energy and bring force to Game 1 and 2 in OKC or theyll be up against it quick. The game has changed a whole lot over the years and having the better perimeter crew is usually the true test in whether you win or not and the Thunder are better overall at the one through three spots. ' ' '