Rude awakening

ST. LOUIS -- A single jarring clap of thunder exploded above this city along the Mississippi just after noon yesterday, waking Edgar Renteria from his sleep.

Thus, the emotional spin cycle began with fear, to be followed later in the day by joy (at the sight of good friend Albert Pujols), closure (in the form of a hug with Tony La Russa), apprehension (as he approached the plate for his first at-bat), gratitude (as a wave of applause crested when he was introduced, washing away initial boos), and later disappointment (with himself, for going hitless, grounding into two double plays, and making an error that led to two unearned runs).

"It was something weird, this day," said Renteria following the Cardinals' 7-1 victory over the Red Sox in which Matt Morris pitched more like Jack Morris circa 1991 than the righthander who lasted only 4 1/3 innings in Game 2 of last year's World Series. "It was tough to concentrate on the field. I'm glad this day has passed already."

Renteria was making his first appearance as a visitor in Busch Stadium in seven years, the Red Sox were making their first-ever regular-season appearance in St. Louis, and a healthy percentage of those in road gray were making their first visit since celebrating a championship in the visiting clubhouse. But if the encore to the Fall Classic was an instant classic, it was only in Cardinal eyes.

Morris, who began the year on the disabled list following shoulder surgery, allowed only four hits and completed nine innings in an economical 101 pitches. Mark Bellhorn singled to lead off the game, Manny Ramirez doubled to begin the second, and Jason Varitek singled Ramirez home two batters later.

Morris would allow only one more hit over the final 7 2/3 innings -- a leadoff single in the seventh to David Ortiz. He retired 12 in a row at one point.

"His delivery was so solid," La Russa said. "To go nine innings against that lineup with that few pitches, that's remarkable."

Morris battled a cramp in his left calf for most of the game and pounded water on the bench on this sticky, 84-degree night.

Tim Wakefield? He might have felt like pounding his head against a wall. His knuckleball was breakdancing far more than in his previous outing, when the Orioles lost three of the baseballs he threw, but his line was decidedly unspectacular: 5 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 4 walks, 3 strikeouts.

"I'm trying," said Wakefield (4-6). "There's streaks that happen during the course of a year, and one is happening to me right now."

But his outing lacked results, and in a rather frustrating way: All seven hits he surrendered were singles, St. Louis stole three bases, and Varitek was charged with three passed balls.

Reggie Sanders singled with one out in the second and stole second. Renteria appeared to have a tag down on Sanders, but umpire Fieldin Culbreth saw it otherwise.

The Cardinals proceeded to reel off four straight singles, followed by a Morris squeeze bunt that vaulted them into a rather comfortable 3-1 lead.

"I don't like to make excuses," said Varitek, "but we have a pretty close call on the first steal, and then we don't swing the bats."

The Sox' focus, at that point, seemed to fade. Ramirez , who was in World Series Game 1 form, allowed Larry Walker to tag from first in the sixth, much to the surprise of everyone in the park, most of all Wakefield.

Asked if he was surprised, Wakefield said, "Yeah," and decided to keep it at that.

Thus, Walker, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, reached second by tagging up, and then scored on a David Eckstein single to right. (To Walker's credit, both Terry Francona and Jay Payton said he has a reputation for being one of baseball's smartest baserunners).

Eckstein (3 for 5, 3 RBIs) knocked in two more in the eighth on a triple to left, on which Ramirez took the scenic route to the ball.

Just one batter earlier, with a runner on first and two outs, Renteria booted a ball hit directly at him that would have ended the inning.

By then it was long over, Wakefield saddled with the loss, his fifth straight. It's the first time he's lost five in a row since Sept. 18, 1995, to April 20, 1996. After going 2-0 with a 1.75 ERA through four starts, he is 2-6 in his last eight appearances with a 6.94 ERA.