ST. LOUIS, 8 June 2005 — Matt Morris pitched a four-hitter and David Eckstein had three hits and drove in three runs as the Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox 7-1 in Interleague play in St. Louis on Monday.
Morris (7-0) allowed one run while striking out one and walking one in pitching his first complete game of the season as the Cardinals got a small token of revenge after being swept by the Red Sox in last year’s World Series.
A sell-out crowd of 50,270, the largest at Busch Stadium in eight years, watched the Cardinals win for the 16th time in their last 18 Interleague games.
Coming off surgery on his shoulder in the winter, Morris pitched his 17th career complete game and easily handled the Red Sox, who scored four runs off him in just 4 2/3 innings in the World Series.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the second inning off starter Tim Wakefield and never lost the lead as Morris improved to 11-5 in Interleague play.
Yadier Molina added two hits and two RBI for the Cards, while Reggie Sanders had two hits and scored twice.
Wakefield (4-6) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs - four earned - on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
Jason Varitek had an RBI single in the second inning for Boston’s lone run.
In other Interleague games, Miguel Tejada and B.J. Surhoff both homered as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Pirates 4-3 in Pittsburgh.
Jorge Julio (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings, striking out two for the win. B.J. Ryan pitched one inning for his 15th save.
In Atlanta, Garret Anderson had two hits and drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels rallied past the Braves 4-2. Brendan Donnelly (3-1) pitched one inning for the win and Francisco Rodriguez pitched one inning for his 11th save.
In Chicago, Reed Johnson hit a three-run homer as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cubs 4-1. Gustavo Chacin (6-4) pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, walking one and striking out six for the win. Miguel Batista pitched one inning for his 10th save.
In Milwaukee, Doug Davis pitched six solid innings as the Brewers beat the New York Yankees 4-3. Davis (8-5) allowed three runs on four hits, walking five and striking out eight. Derrick Turnbow pitched one inning for his ninth save and Jeff Cirillo and Junior Spivey homered for the Brewers.
In Denver, Freddy Garcia pitched eight strong innings as the Chicago White Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 9-3. Garcia (6-3) allowed three runs on two hits and striking out 10. Paul Konerko homered for the White Sox. Brad Hawpe homered for the Rockies.
In Los Angeles, Derek Lowe pitched eight strong innings as the Dodgers beat the Detroit Tigers 5-3. Lowe (5-5) allowed two earned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out five, and Eric Gagne pitched one inning for his sixth save. Jeff Kent homered and drove in four runs for the Dodgers and Jason Repko also homered.
Diamondbacks Cool Off Hot Phillies
In Philadelphia, Shawn Green drove in four runs and Jose Cruz Jr. homered and scored twice as the Arizona Diamondbacks cooled off the Philadelphia Phillies 10-8 in the lone National League game on Monday.
Arizona scored five runs in the first inning and then survived a Philadelphia rally in the bottom of the ninth to snap a five-game losing streak.
The Phillies, involved in a five-team tussle for first place in the NL East, had their six-game winning streak ended, despite scoring four runs in the ninth.
