Williams looks for a way to extend early perfection

ST. LOUIS -- In his next appearance, Woody Williams will try to improve on perfection.

There's no better way to describe the scintillating start by the Cardinals' right-hander, who hasn't allowed a run in three starts covering 19 2/3 innings.

"Am I going to win every start? No. Am I going to throw shutouts every time, or zeroes? No," said Williams, who takes on the Atlanta Braves Thursday. "It's going to come to an end, but right now it's been a lot of fun."

It's an untouchable stretch similar to the one Williams, 36, enjoyed when he was acquired from the Padres in August 2001 and went 7-1 the rest of the way to help win the NL Central. Actually, his entire stay with the Cardinals has been like that, including a 19-inning scoreless streak last September that was previously his career best.

Williams came to the Cardinals basically a .500 pitcher and the team, keen on unloading the salary of outfielder Ray Lankford, had no idea what they were getting. With St. Louis he's 19-5 and has been astoundingly consistent, allowing three or fewer runs in all but one of his last 27 starts.

The ERA during that span is a stingy 1.86.

A 'huge' start

"Woody is really huge," manager Tony La Russa said. "To come out this way early in the season is about as good as anything that's happened to us."

The latest victim was the NL West champion Diamondbacks, limited to three harmless hits in seven innings on Friday. Williams, who carried a no-hitter into the fifth, makes his fourth start on Thursday at Atlanta.

"I'll tell you what, he's really enjoyed a rebirth since he's come over to St. Louis," Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly said. "He's taken his game to a different level."

During his fast start, Williams has fast distanced himself from injury problems that hindered him all last season. He was 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA, but had two stints on the disabled list with a pulled muscle in his left side and totaled only 17 starts -- or about a half-season.

Williams is one of the better-hitting pitchers in the major leagues, but during spring training and in his first start he was ordered not to swing away lest he risk re-injury. He's felt so good the last two starts he's back to being one of the best bottom-of-the-order weapons around, going 3-for-8 thus far.

Also long forgotten is a 14.54 spring training ERA during which he allowed 14 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings, including three home runs. Williams downplayed those numbers in Florida, saying he was just getting his work in.

"Spring training is spring training, it's practice," Williams said. "As long as I'm ready for the first start of the season that's what's important to me.

"I know they want a little bit better results than they get but sometimes things don't go that way."

The right combination

Williams says his late-career surge is a combination of working with pitching coach Dave Duncan and simply the mental boost of playing for a contender. He never hesitates to credit a defense that had four Gold Glove winners last year plus catcher Mike Matheny, one of the NL's best and a winner in 2000.

When hitters make contact, Williams is confident the defense will gobble it up.

"I've never doubted my ability, but it's just nice to be surrounded by these kind of players," Williams said. "It's ridiculous. It's like an All-Star team with our defense, and the lineup is just as good."

Williams has a simple philosophy: work fast and challenge the hitters.

"Bottom line, I just try to throw strikes and keep the guys on their toes," he said. "The ball's hit, usually it's caught, and it's got to be frustrating for the other team."

After arriving in St. Louis, Williams was quickly impressed by the thoroughness of Duncan and the rest of the Cardinals' support staff.

"He's big, he gets me prepared to pitch," Williams said. "We have a meeting, and I know when I go out there that all I have to do is execute."