Morris shows improvement as Cardinals lose to Red Sox

JUPITER, Fla. -- Matt Morris' second spring start was a lot better than the first.

The St. Louis Cardinals' probable opening-day starter worked four innings Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He gave up a two-run homer in the first to David Ortiz, then allowed only two more runners during his last three innings.

On Friday, he gave up nine runs and nine hits in 1 2/3 innings against the New York Mets.

"I don't feel any different, it's just that the results were better," Morris said. "But it is nice. I can take a deep breath and I don't have to worry so much. I can continue to build off that."

Morris had four strikeouts and one walk to lower his spring ERA to a still-unsightly 17.47 but greatly improved from 48.60. He said he was too pumped up for his spring debut.

"I understand there's concern ... 'Oh no, what's going on?'" Morris said. "I felt good the other day, I was just a little excited, and that's been my problem since I was 12."

This time around, he didn't get so pumped up.

"I think he had some fun," manager Tony La Russa said. "After the first inning he actually started to pitch and he was changing speeds, moving the ball around.

"I think he ended up having a real good outing and I think he enjoyed it."

Catcher Mike Matheny said Morris was a lot sharper the second time out.

"He had one fastball come back across the plate and Ortiz hit it pretty good," Matheny said. "Besides that, I thought he made some good pitches.

"Today, it looked like he was dialed in."

Morris felt good enough to sprinkle in his new third pitch, the changeup.

"It still feels awkward, without a doubt," Morris said. "But so does the curveball right now. The fastball had some life on it."

Byung-Hyun Kim made his second start of the spring for the Red Sox and was pulled after 2 1/3 innings instead of three because of a high pitch count. He allowed two runs, three hits and two walks, striking out two.

Kim has had tightness in his back and had trouble getting loose in the first inning.

"But after that, it was no problem," he said through a translator.

Boston took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on left fielder Ray Lankford's error on a deep fly hit by Terry Shumpert off Josh Pearce. Brian Daubach added an RBI single in the fifth.

Albert Pujols had a sacrifice fly and Scott Rolen had an RBI single in the first for the Cardinals. Kerry Robinson added a run-scoring single in the seventh.Noteworthy

Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley, in town working with one of the networks, threw out the first pitch.

Cardinals pitcher Ray King, held back earlier in camp by a twinge in his elbow, made his spring debut and worked a scoreless inning.

Cardinals pitching prospect Adam Wainwright allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innnings in a 10-6 "B" game loss to the Mets. Another pitching prospect, Jimmy Journell, was drilled for five runs -- one earned -- in two innings. Hall of Famers Bob Gibson (third base) and Red Schoendienst (first base) manned the coaching boxes for the Cardinals.

Shortstop Edgar Renteria was excused from camp Tuesday to attend to a personal matter, but is expected to make the trip Wednesday to face the Dodgers in Vero Beach.