Kile sharp, scoreless in defeat of Montreal

JUPITER, Fla. -- Darryl Kile was back in form for the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, pitching four scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory over the Montreal Expos.

Kile, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in November, struck out three and walked two in his third start since missing the first two weeks of spring training. The Expos' only hit off Kile was Jose Vidro's single to right in the third.

"It's a step in the right direction," said Kile, who won 36 games in his first two years with the Cardinals. "You never get to where you want to be but the staff is working their butts off to make sure I'm ready. It's my job to make sure the work they are doing with me pays off."

Kile pitched two no-hit innings in his first start March 15 against Houston. Five days later in Fort Myers, he gave up five runs and eight hits to the Minnesota Twins in the second inning.

"His stuff was good again and he made better pitches," manager Tony La Russa said. "He still needs work and he'll get one more start before the season. His stuff was OK against Minnesota. He just located the ball much better here today."

St. Louis pounded Montreal's Carl Pavano and Alan Mills for 12 hits, including a two-run homer by Mike DiFelice in the second inning. Pavano allowed five runs, two earned, and nine hits in five innings.

"I left a couple of balls out over the plate that hurt me," Pavano said. "I still need a little work."

Andy Benes pitched four innings for the Cardinals, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out five.

The Expos got their only run in the ninth off Mike Matthews on Glen Barker's groundout.

Matt Herges made his first appearance for the Expos. He was obtained Saturday in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with minor league infielder Jorge Nunez, for pitcher Guillermo Mota and outfielder Ruan Wilkin.

Herges pitched two perfect innings, striking out two. The Expos sent Nunez to their minor league camp Monday.

"Matt Herges was a ray of sunshine on a dreary day," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "We just need to catch and throw the ball better, make plays to help our pitchers."

Notes: LF Albert Pujols was dropped from the Cardinals' starting lineup with flulike symptoms. He was replaced by Eli Marrero. ... The Cardinals traded Triple-A OF Ernie Young to Arizona for a player to be named. The Cardinals also optioned RHP Kevin Joseph and OF William Ortega to Triple-A Memphis.