JUPITER, Fla. (AP) _ Darryl Kile looked ready for opening day, pitching six scoreless innings as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 Friday.

Kile, a 20-game winner last year, allowed just two hits and one walk, striking out five.

``I'll continue to work the next four or five days, try to improve my rhythm, build arm strength and try to stay healthy,'' Kile said. ``This is another step and I just try to be ready game when it's my turn to take the ball.''

When he faces his former team, the Colorado Rockies, in Denver on April 2 it will be Kile's fourth straight opening day assignment. He did it twice for Colorado and the last two years for the Cardinals.

``It's an honor to be selected to pitch opening day,'' Kile said. ``But I will prepare just the same as I would whether it's the first game or the 100th game. My job is to be ready to go out and give my team a chance to win.''

Manager Tony La Russa was enthused about Kile's performance.

``He was very strong, excellent, a good fastball which he could spot in and out, up and down, and had a great curve and changeup,'' La Russa said. ``His changeup was getting better and better last season and now it's something he can throw any time he wants to against righties or lefties.''

Kile should get one more start this spring, probably Wednesday against the Montreal.

Edgar Renteria, Albert Pujols, Bobby Bonilla, Larry Sutton and Quinton McCracken led the Cardinals with two hits apiece. Pujols and McCracken each drove in a pair of runs. The Cardinals broke the game open with two runs each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings off Pat Hentgen, who pitched in St. Louis last season.