Home runs keep Royals grounded

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa doesn't want to rely on three-run homers. Still, he's happy to have them in bunches.

Albert Pujols, Miguel Cairo and Eli Marrero each hit three-run shots as St. Louis beat the Kansas City Royals 11-3 Saturday night.

"They're nice to get when you get them," La Russa said. "Early, that ball was carrying, we got one in the wind, especially the one Cairo hit."

Matt Morris (8-4) pitched eight innings, retiring his last 18 batters. He gave up two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out eight. Morris rebounded from a rough stretch during which he went 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in his last four starts. He walked nine in 12 innings in his previous two starts.

"That was closer to himself," La Russa said. "He's had some good sessions with (pitching coach Dave Duncan). You're never supposed to say he's there. It leaves you something to work for."

Morris said the huge cushion he got from the St. Louis hitters made a big difference.

"Any time you have a big lead, you're able to make mistakes and get away with a run here or there. You're able to do some things you couldn't do in a close game," Morris said. "I threw some more changeups and worked on my rhythm, because I've struggled a little. You put up 10 runs and it's tough to lose."

The Cardinals have won the first two games of the I-70 series, a rematch of the 1985 World Series. The Royals dropped to a season-worst 11 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central.

St. Louis is 8-9 in interleague play against the state rival Royals.

Pujols, who played at Fort Osage High School in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Mo., was 2-for-4 with a walk. He is hitting .571 in five career games against Kansas City with four runs scored, four doubles and eight RBIs. He had 19 friends and family in attendance.

"It always feels good to come up here and perform," Pujols said. "Last year we got swept. This year we came ready to play. There's nothing special I do. I just try to see the ball and hit it. I just put a good swing on it and whatever happens happens."

Cairo's first home run of the season, a 402-foot shot into the left-field bullpen, scored Tino Martinez and Edgar Renteria in the second inning for a 3-1 lead.

The Cardinals broke it open in the fourth.

Marrero, Fernando Vina and Placido Polanco singled to score one run. Affeldt got J.D. Drew to fly to center, then was lifted because of a blister on his middle finger.

Mac Suzuki came in and allowed a three-run homer to Pujols, the major league-leading 80th home run given up by the Royals.

The Cardinals got another run in the seventh on Mike DiFelice's sacrifice fly, and Marrero hit his fourth home run of the year off Cory Bailey in the ninth.

Jeremy Affeldt (1-4) took the loss for Kansas City. He allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 1-3 innings.

"(Affeldt) has an impressive arm," La Russa said. "He just struggles with his command. That's what's been Matt's problem."

Kansas City went ahead in the first inning when newcomer Donzell McDonald hit a double over Pujols' head in left field and scored on Carlos Beltran's double. The Royals had a chance to score more, but left the bases loaded when Brandon Berger struck out.

McDonald made his Royals debut after being called up to replace Mark Quinn, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

Notes: The attendance of 40,016 was the largest non-opening day crowd since July 4, 1993, when 40,329 saw Kansas City play Toronto. ... Renteria scored the 500th run of his career on Cairo's home run in the second. ... Pujols has hit eight of his 13 home runs in his last 20 games since May 17. ... Royals hitting coach Lamar Johnson was ejected in the fourth inning. ... Plate umpire Derryl Cousins removed himself from the game in the top of the fifth. Cousins took a foul ball off the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. He was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which were negative. He was replaced by second base umpire Andy Fletcher.