St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 9, 2001

Morris Goes Distance, Pirates Go Nowhere

By Rick Hummel

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, a valued National League observer inasmuch as he has managed in the league for more than a decade, was ruminating the other day about how the young pitching was the best in a while.

When the subject of Matt Morris arose, Cox said flatly, "One of the top 10 pitchers in the league."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, "Why don't you throw him in the top five?"

The righthander's past six starts suggest as much. For the sixth consecutive start, Morris worked at least seven innings. For the sixth consecutive start, he didn't allow more than two runs. For the first time since September 1998, the last game he won in the big leagues before he hurt his elbow, Morris pitched a complete game and a shutout.

Morris gave up four singles, only one of them hit hard, and walked just one batter in a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. His final pitch, the 116th of his night, was a high fastball that he threw past Aramis Ramirez, last week's National League player of the week.

He pumped his fist several times in excitement and then was embraced by catcher Eli Marrero.

Morris admitted that he didn't have much left. "I know I was on (empty). I didn't know how long I could go," he said.

It might be a bit premature, but Morris (4-2), with a 2.25 earned-run average, could be headed for his first All-Star team. And so could Cardinals rookie Albert Pujols, who will need some help.

Pujols is not on the ballot, but he is among the National League leaders in runs batted in and home runs. Pujols ripped his 10th homer, a 431-foot shot, and drove in two runs, giving him 34 in 30 games. J.D Drew, who has batted .481 during an eight-game hitting streak, is encouraging Cardinals fans to write in the rookie's name on the ballot. "I think I might complete some votes for him," Drew said.

Drew ripped a two-run homer, his 10th, off Jose Silva in the seventh inning, and Ray Lankford added his seventh homer in the inning, a two-run drive off Silva and the glove of rookie center fielder Tike Redman, who lost the ball to the shrubbery behind the wall.

The Pirates had considerable difficulty hanging onto the ball all night. They had as many errors as hits, committing four, giving them 31 for 30 games.

Pirates starter Todd Ritchie dropped to 0-4. The Pirates have lost all seven of his starts.

The Cardinals have won Morris' past four starts, all caught by Marrero, who has handled Morris all the way back to 1995 when they were at Class A St. Petersburg.

"He and I work well together," Marrero said. "He knows what he wants to do. I'm happy for him."

Morris should have four consecutive wins, too, but for a ninth-inning homer he allowed to Cliff Floyd last week in Florida.

"I made a mistake, and I almost ended up losing the ball game," Morris said. "I had the opportunity again, and I just wanted to make sure I got out of this one."

Pittsburgh right fielder Derek Bell had owned Morris before Monday night. He had been eight for 16 in his career against Morris but was overmatched like everyone else.

"He's unbelievable," Bell said. "From what I've seen tonight, if he keeps his head focused, he's going to win 20 games, and he's going to win the ERA title. If not this year, then next year. He's got all the potential to do it.

"He's just got to believe he can do it because he can do it."

Morris' previous shutout came Sept. 22, 1998, against Houston. "I don't even remember that," he said. "That was a long time ago."

Drew remembers watching Morris from the bench when he came up late in 1998. "I remember thinking, 'I hope all the pitchers aren't like this, or I'm in trouble," Drew said. "It was an amazing thing to see. And now, it looks like he's back with a vengeance."

Drew recalled Morris throwing a 96 mph fastball in the sixth inning Monday. "I said, 'These guys are in trouble if he's got that much juice left," Drew said.

Before the ninth inning, La Russa said he asked Morris, "How bad do you want it?" He said Morris replied, "I want it."

La Russa said Morris throws as hard as he did before he got hurt. "It's really not important," La Russa said. "He's got plenty of fastball."