Morris makes return but Cards fall to Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Matt Morris pitched two strong innings in his spring debut following offseason shoulder surgery, but Tom Glavine tossed four innings of no-hit ball to lead a split squad of New York Mets over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Saturday.

Carlos Beltran hit his second homer for the Mets, and David Wright had a two-run double.

The Cardinals scored two runs off reliever Dae-Sung Koo in the sixth on a double by Yadier Molina and a single by Bo Hart.

St. Louis loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs, but Scott Strickland got Mike Bell on a fly to left to end the game and snap the Cardinals' six-game winning streak.

Glavine got nine groundball outs, allowing only one baserunner on a walk in the second inning.

Pitching just 3 1/2 months after arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, Morris yielded a leadoff single to Jose Reyes to open the first inning. After retiring Kaz Matsui on a popup, the right-hander retired Beltran and Mike Piazza on called third strikes.

Despite a single by Doug Mientkiewicz in the second -- the only hard-hit ball put in play against Morris -- the St. Louis starter ended the inning by striking out Wright looking and getting Eric Valent on a groundout.

"Those are results," said Morris, who threw 32 pitches, 21 for strikes. "I was able to get the ball out front, not get too fine and work some counts.

"I was just trying to get some good fastballs. Last year, I had trouble getting strike one for fear that it would get whacked every time because I'd miss my spots and get behind."

The 30-year-old Morris was 15-10 last season with a 4.72 ERA. He is 65-35 the last four seasons.