Cardinals' Mulder notches 10th win against Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mark Mulder pitched seven shutout innings in a triumphant return to the Bay area, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Friday night for their fifth victory in six games.

Mulder (10-5), pitching back in the area for the first time since Oakland traded him in December, won his second straight decision. He allowed four hits, struck out one and walked one in an impressive 73-pitch performance.

Larry Walker hit a two-run homer and Reggie Sanders added a solo shot as the Cardinals won for the sixth time in eight games.

Al Reyes allowed a two-out solo home run to Pedro Feliz in the eighth to spoil a chance for the team's eighth shutout. Jason Isringhausen worked the ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances.

On a night when mist hovered over the outfield for most of the game, Mulder improved to 6-2 in eight starts against San Francisco. The 6-foot-6 lefty needed only five pitches to get through each of the fourth and sixth innings -- just the kind of quick work the former A's ace became known for in five seasons across San Francisco Bay.

He was traded to the Cardinals in December, two days after the A's dealt Tim Hudson to Atlanta and broke up the Big Three. Mulder outpitched Giants ace Jason Schmidt in their first head-to-head meeting.

Schmidt (6-5), who was trying to win for the fourth time in five starts, allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked four. He allowed runners in all but the second and sixth innings.

The right-hander bit his lip in apparent frustration after giving up two straight walks in the fifth, then received a visit from pitching coach Dave Righetti and catcher Mike Matheny moments later. He then struck out Scott Rolen.

Walker hit his 10th homer in the first, sending the first pitch from Schmidt deep into McCovey Cove. The ball landed some 30 feet out in the water near a buoy -- a shot that traveled an estimated 455 feet.

Walker became the ninth opposing player to hit a splash homer. Arizona's Luis Gonzalez has done it twice, while Barry Bonds has 31 splash homers.

Walker's infield single in the third loaded the bases after a two-out double by Jim Edmonds and a walk to Albert Pujols. But Rolen lined out to third to end the threat.

Sanders connected for his 18th homer of the season leading off the fourth.

San Francisco second baseman Ray Durham returned to the lineup and led off after missing the previous two games with a strained left wrist. He went 0-for-4 with a walk.

Matheny received his third career Gold Glove award from Cardinals manager Tony La Russa before Matheny faced his former team. La Russa and the entire Cardinals team came out to greet Matheny with a hug and handshake at home plate just before first pitch. And Matheny received a lengthy standing ovation from the SBC Park crowd.

Notes: With Sunday's ESPN night game, both La Russa and Giants manager Felipe Alou -- a coach on La Russa's All-Star staff -- had to scramble to find the fastest way to Detroit. "I think an Extremely Selfish Programming Network is going to try to get us there," La Russa said. Alou will fly commercial on a redeye after the game. ... Mulder has gone six or more innings in 13 of his 18 starts. ... Schmidt is just 1-4 vs. St. Louis since joining the Giants in 2001. ... SBC Park sold out for the ninth time this year (41,405).