SAN FRANCISCO -- Drenched in all kinds of liquids poured out of a beat-up bucket that teammates conjured up in the clubhouse, Tom Koehler never felt better as a major league pitcher. Pinch hitter Marcell Ozunas two-run single gave Koehler his first victory in nine career starts, and the Miami Marlins rallied past the San Francisco Giants 2-1 Thursday night. "I smell like a bar," Koehler said. "Other than the day I met my wife, this is probably the happiest moment of my life. Definitely the happiest baseball moment." In his first career pinch-hit appearance, Ozunas line drive to right field in the eighth inning off reliever Jeremy Affeldt (1-3) ended Koehlers run of futility. After six appearances in the bullpen, Koehler (1-5) had been winless in seven starts this season -- and took the loss in his lone start last year -- for the worst team in the majors. He hugged Ozuna in the dugout following the hit that flipped the score. Koehler also had the game ball in his locker -- soon to be resting on the mantle in his "man cave" back home, he said -- that Steve Cishek handed to him after recording his 11th save in the ninth. The right-handers victory ended the third-longest winless streak to start a career in Marlins history, behind Marc Valdezs nine-start stretch from 1995-96 and Kevin Olsens 12-start streak from 2001-02, according to STATS. "It definitely didnt weigh on my confidence, but to say I didnt think about it would be a lie," Koehler said. "Every time I went out there I wanted to win the game. I was wondering what it would take to do it." Giants starter Chad Gaudin tossed 4 1-3 scoreless innings, but he left the game after taking a hard line drive off his right throwing elbow. The team said he had a bruised elbow. Far more concerning for the Giants was the status of centre fielder Angel Pagan, who was on a rehab assignment with Class-A San Jose. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Pagan injured his leg running to first base and was carted off the field. Bochy said more information on Pagans injury would come Friday. One of the few good moments for San Francisco came when Joaquin Arias extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI triple in the seventh. Koehler kept the Giants off the scoreboard otherwise. He didnt even allow a hit until Gregor Blancos one-out single in the sixth. He struck out three, walked three and allowed three hits. "He was really happy," Ozuna said. San Francisco seems to be hounded by unfortunate injuries of late. Gaudin took a line drive from Derek Dietrich off his elbow, fielded the ball and threw him out for the first out of the fifth inning. Gaudin grimaced as he paced around the mound, then he took a couple practice pitches before coming out. Gaudin gave up two hits and two walks while striking out one. He was making just his fourth start of the season since entering the rotation for the injured Ryan Vogelsong. "It didnt hit bone at all, just muscle," Gaudin said. "Its a little sore but there are no breaks or anything. It hurt. It hit square on top of the elbow. Its frustrating but something I cant control. Ill just deal with it." It also was the second straight game the Marlins had taken out an opposing pitcher. Arizonas Trevor Cahill left in the first inning after a line drive from Ozuna bruised his right hip in Miamis 3-1 loss Wednesday. The only blemish on Koehlers first victory came when Belt hit a two-out double in the seventh, sliding in safely when right fielder Giancarlo Stantons throw sailed wide. Arias followed with an RBI triple in the right-centre field gap. Sandy Rosario was taken out after 2 1-3 innings when he walked Justin Ruggiano leading off the eighth. Ozuna later lined a two-out, two-run single to right on an 0-2 count against Affeldt to give the Marlins the lead. The rookie had never pinch hit in the majors before. "Hes a pretty good pinch hitter," Marlins manager Mike Redmond quipped. NOTES: The Marlins have won eight in a row at AT&T Park since July 28, 2010. ... Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval, on the disabled list since June 9 with a strained left foot, will join Class-A San Jose on a rehab assignment Friday -- a day earlier than originally expected. He will likely join the Giants in Los Angeles on Monday. ... The Giants announced that Joseph Zito, the father of pitcher Barry Zito, died Wednesday in Van Nuys, Calif., at age 84. The cause of death was not disclosed. Zito, who said in a statement his fathers death "has presented me with a difficulty I could not predict," was the first pitcher on the field for batting practice Thursday. He will still make his next start Saturday. ... Ozuna, mired in a 1-for-20 slump, wasnt in the starting lineup off for the first time since being called up from Double-A Jacksonville on April 30. ... The Marlins send Ricky Nolasco (4-7, 3.61 ERA) to the mound Friday and the Giants counter with Tim Lincecum (4-7, 4.57 ERA). Brad Brach Jersey . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Carlos Zambrano Cubs Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Greg-Maddux-Kids-Jersey/ . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Daniel Descalso Cubs Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Jason Heyward Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Former India captain Jude Felix pays tribute to his team-mate and idol, Mohammad Shahid, who he calls one of the greatest of all time.There has been a massive outpouring of grief and tributes in memory of Mohammad Shahid, one of Indian hockeys most celebrated and loved players, one of the true legends of the game. What younger people will hear most about him today is this: that he represented India at three Olympic Games, including the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where India won gold for the last time. That is just the fraction of what Shahid was all about.Today I feel sorry for many of those who have missed seeing Shahid in action with their own eyes. I was one of the few privileged to have played alongside this remarkable hockey player, and to have been heavily influenced by him. Let me try and paint a picture for you, and tell you why he was so special, and will always continue to be so.I can tell you it wont be easy, because his skills are difficult to sum up in words. Shahid was not just a good player; he was one of the greatest of all time, that was the level he belonged to; one of those rare players who were amazing in all their skills. He was the perfect package -- he could dribble, pass, feint and score just as effortlessly. And mind you, that was done at lightning-quick pace.It was what made him the special one, singled out for special attention by every team, even though he played alongside very gifted teammates. Naturally, he was heavily man-marked, one defender attached to his ankles, but when any team did that, he showed off yet another aspect of his skill; he could fake a run like no one else in the game at the time. I wish more people had seen him in action, because he was an absolute wizard. If you were a paying spectator, you got to see a true delight.If you can find any old videos of Shahid in full flight, take a look and imagine what he would have been like doing those things, in front of you on a hockey field. Would Shahid have kept up with modern hockey? Definitely. He would take a defender to the corner and then make him drop to his knees, wrong footing them, sending them in one direction and creating space for himself in another and taking off.I have seen the best defenders in the world give up when faced with Shahid and his complete repertoire of skills - control, footspeed, reflexes. So I dont think he would have been any different if he was a part of modern hockey. He began playing on natural grass and he finished his career playing on astro-turf. I dont think playing in this era would have made any difference to Shahid.He belongs to that category of great players who are great across ages because they belong and they adapt. Another aspect of his game - and how the Indian team would love someone like him now - was that he could win you penalty corners from any situation.As a team, we knew that with Shahid going forward, we were goinng to get a number of penalty corners.dddddddddddd Back in those days, the Indian team was much better at penalty corner conversion than it is now. When you combined his great skills on the ball with this fact that he could win you any number of penalty corners, you realise how invaluable he remained.One of the saddest days of my life was when I was put into his position (the now-rare inside-left) in the playing eleven in the 1988 Olympics. It was a proud moment for me to be playing for India at an Olympic Games; yet, it was heartbreaking to see one of my idols having to sit on the bench.Mind you, this was simply because I was a fitter, younger man at the time. Even when he did come into the team, he was played out of position as a centre-forward, and the astonishing thing for all of us was how he excelled even there.I can still distinctly remember in our Olympic match against the home team, Korea, he cut past four defenders and passed the ball to Thoiba on the left, who scored. That was the magic of Mohammad Shahid - the creator of openings, where you never expected them.Shahid was such an entertaining and attractive player that he drew the eyes of the crowd towards himself; naturally he influenced many youngsters to take up the sport. I should know, as I was one of them. I remember seeing him in the flesh for the first time when I was 15; my school -- St. Germain High School in Bangalore -- had organised a felicitation for the gold-medal winning team from the 1980 Olympic Games.Within four years, it was a dream come true to be playing alongside him for both Railways and soon afterwards for India. I am glad to say that I traveled to Varanasi to meet him in January this year, the first time we were meeting since 1988. It was like he had just disappeared after the 1988 Olympics.I had a plan of inviting him over to my academy, the Jude Felix Hockey Academy in Bangalore, where we work with orphans and other underprivileged children, and provide them with hockey training and education facilities. I had thought I would just give him a part of the field and let him show some of the basics of the game to the children, his own very original and special basics. Unfortunately, we couldnt make it happen because of his health.We kept in touch, though and it is a very sad day for me personally to know that he is gone. Naturally, Shahid definitely left an impression on those who have followed him. You see, in those days, there were no videos or coaching manuals, we used to learn everything from watching our seniors. I know for sure that we can pass on all that we want to younger players, but you wont have another like him. He was Gods gift to the world of hockey. There is and there will only be one Mohammad Shahid.(As told to Debayan Sen) ' ' '
