ST. LOUIS (AP) – Matt Morris' ERA keeps shrinking.

Morris pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game since 1998, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-0 Monday night.

"He was tough," said Pirates leadoff hitter Jason Kendall, who was 0-for-4. "That was the Matt Morris I saw a few years ago."

Morris (4-2) struck out six and walked one for his second shutout and sixth complete game. It was his first complete game since a five-hit shutout against Houston on Sept. 22, 1998.

He missed all of the 1999 season after elbow surgery and was in the bullpen all last year.

"I'm just feeling good and getting more confidence with my pitches and executing them, and getting a better feel for being out there," Morris said.

Morris didn't allow a hit until John Vander Wal singled to open the fifth, and the other three hits he gave up were singles. For the sixth straight game he lowered his ERA, this time shaving off 52 points to 2.25.

Morris' ERA was at 18.00 after his first start, on April 5 in Colorado, when he gave up 10 runs – six earned – in three innings. Since then, he's allowed six earned runs in 45 innings.

"He's just pitching at a very high level," manager Tony La Russa said. "It's almost unfair."

Pittsburgh, which made a season-high four errors, failed in its attempt to win three straight for the first time this season. Making errors were third baseman Aramis Ramirez, second baseman Pat Meares, outfielder Brian Giles and pitcher Todd Ritchie.

"It was a pretty bleak performance on the defensive side of the ball," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Somehow, you've got to kick it in and be ready to go the first game of every series."

Rookie Albert Pujols and J.D. Drew each hit his 10th home run and Ray Lankford hit his seventh for the Cardinals. Pujols, who also had a run-scoring groundout, leads the NL with 19 two-strike hits and ranks among the league leaders with 34 RBI.

Ritchie (0-4), the Pirates' opening-day starter, allowed three runs – two earned – and six hits in six innings. He is winless in seven starts this year.

"I felt good, but Morris was just on," Ritchie said. "It's hard to beat a guy like that who's in the zone."

Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria left after six innings with a strained left quadriceps.

Pujols homered for the second straight game when he connected o leading off the second. The Cardinals missed chances to blow the game open by stranding seven runners in the third through fifth innings, but scored four on two-run shots by Drew and Lankford in the seventh.

Renteria, batting .219 with four homers and nine RBI, may have been injured charging a ball on Meares' infield hit to start the sixth. He attempted to make a barehand play and throw in the same motion but bobbled the ball.

"He felt a little something," La Russa said.

Game notes
Morris' balk in the sixth inning was only the second by a Cardinals pitcher. The other was Bobby Bonilla in a 17-4 loss to Arizona on April 17. ... St. Louis Blues Fs Keith Tkachuk and Dallas Drake watched batting practice on the field. ... Derek Bell was 0-for-3 with a walk and is 2-for-28 his last eight games. ... The Pirates have 31 errors in 30 games. They had three errors on May 2 against the Giants.

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