Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0

ST. LOUIS – Matt Morris pitched a two-hitter and struck out a season-high 11, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to their seventh straight victory, 3-0 over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a matchup of division leaders.

Reggie Sanders homered, doubled and had two RBIs. Mike Matheny also homered for the Cardinals, who have won 11 of 13 overall and are a major league best 90-44.

Morris (15-8) won his third straight start and walked none, pitching the low-hit complete game of his career. The only hits he allowed were singles by Jose Lima in the third and Robin Ventura in the fifth.

Morris, who retired his last 14 batters, pitched his second shutout this season, the eighth of his career. He has 16 complete games, including three this season. Previously, his low-hit complete game was a three-hitter against Cincinnati on Sept. 7 last year.

It was the first time he struck out 10 or more since April 5 last year against Houston.

Lima (11-5) gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings, dropping to 1-5 in his career against the Cardinals with a 6.75 ERA. Lima, who has lost consecutive starts after winning five straight decisions, has allowed 29 homers, all but six with the bases empty.

Jim Edmonds doubled with one out in the second and Sanders doubled him home with two outs to put the Cardinals ahead. Sanders hit his 21st homer in the fifth and Matheny homered in the seventh.

Notes: Dodgers OF Milton Bradley attended the funeral of his grandfather in Los Angeles and is expected to rejoin the team Saturday. Manager Jim Tracy has said he won’t start. … The Dodgers have not made an error in six games. … The Cardinals have won eight in a row at home, where they’re 46-23, and they’re 36-11 since the All-Star break. … The Cardinals have 23 extra-base hits the last four games, 12 of them homers.

AP-ES-09-03-04 2225EDT