ST. LOUIS -- It wasn't the change of scenery that turned around Jake Peavy's season. It was a jolt of confidence shown by his new team and old manager, along with a little tweak to his mechanics.
San Francisco's starter for Game 2 of the NL Championship Series on Sunday night was struggling along with a 1-9 record and a 4.72 ERA for Boston when he was dealt to the Giants at the July trade deadline.
Peavy quickly looked more like his former self, showing some of the form that made him a unanimous winner of the 2007 NL Cy Young Award with San Diego.
For the Giants, he went 6-4 with a 2.17 ERA, and threw 5 2-3 scoreless innings in winning Game 1 of the NL Division Series against Washington.
Peavy pitched for manager Bruce Bochy when both were with the Padres. Getting back with him was a boost, Peavy said Saturday.
"He believes in me like my high school coach believed in me, if that makes sense," Peavy said. "That's not saying that people in Boston didn't believe in me. But it was a different feeling when I would take the mound there."
Peavy said he was also helped by Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti, who made a few minor "tweaks" to the 33-year-old right-hander.
"It really wasn't anything major, but it's made a world of difference," Peavy said.
Lance Lynn, who starts against Peavy in Game 2, has no trouble believing in himself. The 27-year-old was 15-10 with a 2.74 ERA for St. Louis, a solid No. 2 behind 20-game winner Adam Wainwright.
"Confidence has never been a problem, that's for sure," Lynn said. "I just go out and pitch, I don't worry about anything. Pretty simple."
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny called Lynn "probably one of the most underrated pitchers in the game with what he's been able to do."