Cardinals pay tribute to Kile with ceremony, win

ST. LOUIS -- Darryl Kile's 5-year-old son, wearing a tiny St. Louis Cardinals uniform with his dad's No. 57 on the back, helped the team memorialize their star pitcher.

Kannon Kile threw out the first pitch, then exchanged leaping high-fives with players in the dugout, lifting the mood before the Cardinals' 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Kannon sat between pitcher Matt Morris and closer Jason Isringhausen during the early innings of the game, then moved on to the bullpen.

"You saw our little starting pitcher," manager Tony La Russa said. "He was in the bullpen later on and he was hitting on the tee. We had a Kile on our bench today."

Brewers batters paid respect to Kile by tipping their helmets in the direction of the Cardinals' dugout.

"It was something we wanted to do to let them know we knew how tough a day it was for them," Brewers manager Jerry Royster said. "It was a tough day for them to show up and play a baseball game."

Woody Williams and Mike Matheny, who spoke to about 5,000 fans at a memorial service for Kile earlier in the day, played pivotal roles as the Cardinals ended a four-game losing streak. Williams allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings and had an RBI single. Matheny had his first two-RBI game since April 25 and his first three-hit game since April 26.

"We just knew we had to get something rolling offensively," Matheny said. "I'm trying to help this team when I can while not taking the focus off what I need to do behind the plate."

The Cardinals totaled only six runs during the losing streak, which began last Thursday after the team held a public visitation and memorial service for longtime broadcaster Jack Buck. Kile died Saturday at his hotel room in Chicago from a heart problem.

Williams (5-3) blanked the Brewers until Matt Stairs homered to start the eighth and pinch-hitter Ryan Thompson added an RBI double.

Williams allowed seven hits, striking out seven and walking one. He is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his last four starts.

"The team knows we need to get back and get focused, and tonight was a good start," Williams said. "I wanted to try and get some of the momentum on our side, and it worked."

Matheny and Williams, who has two RBIs this year, each drove in a run in the Cardinals' three-run second against Jamey Wright (1-6), with Fernando Vina adding an RBI single. Matheny and Eli Marrero had RBI singles in the third for a 5-0 lead.

Wright, a former teammate of Kile's in Colorado in 1998-99, was among a handful of Brewers players who put Kile's number and initials on opposite sides of his cap.

Wright lasted five innings, giving up five runs on nine hits, and lost his fifth straight decision to match his career worst stretch.

"This is tough on everybody," Wright said. "It was a tough, emotional day. Then to top everything else off, I give them a five-run lead in the third inning."

Since his only victory on May 24 over the Padres, Wright has given up 31 earned runs in 33 1/3 innings.

Isringhausen worked the ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances, and first since May 28. He was sidelined about three weeks with an elbow injury earlier this month.