Morris pitches Cards to 4-0 win over Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Matt Morris used the All-Star break to regain his focus, and he's been in top form ever since.

Morris pitched eight sharp innings and Jim Edmonds homered to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the San Francisco Giants 4-0 Tuesday night.

"He got a mental and physical break and freshened up some," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of his No. 1 starter. "Every time they had a chance to score, Matt rose to the occasion and that was impressive."

Tino Martinez, despite being bothered by a sore back, hit a two-run double and Edmonds added an RBI double for the Cardinals, who won their third straight and maintained a 4 1/2-game lead over Cincinnati in the NL Central.

The injury-riddled Giants, playing with a depleted lineup, lost for the third time in four games.

Morris (12-6) struck out eight to beat the Giants for the second consecutive start. He allowed six hits and walked three, improving to 4-2 lifetime against San Francisco with a 1.59 ERA in eight appearances.

Dave Veres pitched the ninth to complete the seven-hitter.

Morris, who was named to the NL All-Star team but didn't appear in the game, has allowed two runs in 23 innings since the break.

"I was worried there for a while, physically and mentally," he said. "The last couple of games have been good and I have to be satisfied with where I am."

Jason Schmidt (5-5) entered with an NL-best 1.89 ERA at home, but gave up four runs on six hits and five walks in six innings. He struck out six. It was his first loss at Pacific Bell Park to an NL team this season.

"It really came down to location," Schmidt said. "I couldn't hit my spots and never figured it out. When you face Matt Morris, you know it's going to be a tough game. Those two runs in the first made him even tougher."

Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and Reggie Sanders, the Giants' Nos. 3-4-5 hitters, all missed the game with various injuries. Bonds was out with a right hamstring strain and could miss up to a week. Kent missed his second straight game with soreness in his upper leg, and Sanders was out with a mild right hamstring strain.

"I'm happy. Who wouldn't be? It's unfortunate they're sore and hurt, but it's good for me and the Cardinals," Morris said. "Those guys are All-Star players and without them, it definitely helped us."

Morris retired 10 of 11 batters through one stretch to improve his night ERA to a league best 1.97.

"If they were in the lineup it would have helped," Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia said. "But Morris has done this to the entire league. There's nothing we could do. He's one of the league's best pitchers."

The Cardinals took advantage of some early wildness by Schmidt to take a 2-0 lead in the first.

Placido Polanco was hit by a pitch, Albert Pujols walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Martinez delivered a two-out double to drive home both runners.

Edmonds hit his second home run in as many days, a solo shot with two outs in the third, to pad the lead to 3-0.

"I don't think we really got to Schmidt," Edmonds said. "He pitched a great game. We were just fortunate Matt Morris was on the mound and did a great job."

Edmonds added an RBI double in the seventh to chase Schmidt, who threw three wild pitches.

Notes: Kent was expected back in the lineup Wednesday. ... Cardinals SS Edgar Renteria had three hits and needs five for 1,000. ... Martinez left with back spasms after the top of the sixth inning. ... Schmidt is 8-15 in July, his worst month. ... San Francisco's Shawon Dunston walked for just the second time in 114 plate appearances. ... Giants OF Tom Goodwin, replacing Bonds in the lineup, was 2-for-2 with two walks and two stolen bases. ... The Cardinals evened their road record at 24-24.