Morris of old leads defeat of Giants

ST. LOUIS -- Matt Morris is starting to feel like his old self on the mound for the first time since the death of good friend Darryl Kile.

He allowed one run in eight innings as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Thursday.

Morris (11-6) won for the first time in five starts. He struck out eight and walked one while holding the Giants to just one run.

"I erased all my stats from the first half," said Morris, whose locker was next to Kile's. "I take it day by day, game by game. I feel good physically. Taking off those three days helped my back."

Morris was 0-2 since his last win, June 19 against Anaheim -- three days before Kile died in his sleep in a Chicago hotel room.

Last Saturday, Morris pitched seven strong innings but got no decision at San Diego where he allowed one run on four hits.

Morris said he knows the difference.

"It's confidence," Morris said. "I stopped worrying about what I'm doing on the mound as far as mechanics and went to throwing the baseball. I've been gifted with the talents to throw the baseball and I'd been thinking too much out there. I think that works for me.

"I get in a groove and then three or four innings later, I'm able to make better pitches and I get sharper. It carries me into the seventh and eighth inning."

Mike DiFelice hit a two-run single as the Cardinals broke a 1-all tie with a three-run sixth inning against Jason Schmidt (5-4).

With two men on and two outs, J.D. Drew doubled in Jim Edmonds, who had walked.

Schmidt intentionally walked Edgar Renteria to load the bases. DiFelice then singled home Tino Martinez and Drew, giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead.

"It was a pretty good pitch," Schmidt said. "He was looking for it and he hit it. It was one of those times he got me."

The Cardinals added a run in the eighth when Renteria singled off the hand of reliever Felix Rodriguez before scoring when second baseman Jeff Kent misplayed pinch-hitter Kerry Robinson's grounder. It was Kent's second error in two games.

The Cardinals have won five of six and 10 of 14. The Giants have lost just three of their past 10 games.

San Francisco took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when David Bell doubled home Reggie Sanders. The Cardinals countered in the bottom of that inning when Renteria doubled home Martinez.

Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth.

Renteria is 9-for-10 in the two-game series against the Giants and is 13-for-21 in his last five games.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was ejected by plate umpire Joe West in the bottom of the second, with the game tied at 1.

After being called out on strikes by West, DiFelice spoke to West as he headed back into the dugout. Pitcher Matt Morris, the next batter, also talked with West, who took off his mask to address Morris.

La Russa then ran from the dugout and began arguing with West, who ejected him.

"I was just trying to protect my player," said La Russa, who watched the game from the television set in his office.

Morris said he had nothing in particular to say to West.

Noteworthy

Barry Bonds sat out the day game for the Giants.

Baker is one victory shy of 800 with the Giants.

The Cardinals only spent 42 hours in St. Louis on this two-game homestand.

The start of the game was delayed 51 minutes by rain. There was an additional 45-minute delay in the third inning.