Kile Hopes to Be Ace in Hole for Cardinals

The Arizona Diamondbacks have played both of their aces, and the St. Louis Cardinals still have one left.

Darryl Kile, who began the year as St. Louis’ No. 1 starter, pitches in Game 3 tonight in an NL playoff series tied at a game apiece.

The Diamondbacks will go with Miguel Batista, who pitched in relief and made a mental error in the ninth inning of Game 2 to give away an insurance run in St. Louis’ 4-1 victory.

Kile (16-11) was a 20-game winner last year and was the Cardinals’ opening-day starter. He pitched in the season finale Sunday, with the NL Central up for grabs, but had one of his poorest outings, allowing seven runs in 62/3 innings.

Houston beat Kile and the Cardinals to win the division.

Kile has been bothered by elbow and shoulder woes late in the season, but said Wednesday he’s fine and will try to follow dominant outings by Matt Morris and Woody Williams.

“This time of year, really all that matters is being able to compete and competing at your top level,” Kile said. “I feel like I’m healthy enough to do that.”

Kile had a 3.09 earned-run average this year, compared to 3.91 last season, but ended up with four fewer victories partly because the Cardinals scored only 20 runs in his 11 losses.

“It would be nice to get him some runs for the first time all year,” Jim Edmonds said.

Batista (11-8) is a decided step down after 20-game winners Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, who pitched in Games 1 and 2. He threw eight pitches in the ninth inning and froze on a comebacker, getting no outs instead of perhaps a double play, but Manager Bob Brenly expects Batista will bounce back strong.

“That’s what we’re anticipating because that’s what he’s done all year long,” Brenly said. “He’s shown no adverse affects from what we’ve given him all year long.

“He’s pitched between starts and he’s come through it all with flying colors.”

Batista also has played for the Cubs and Expos.

“A lot of people believe I come from nowhere,” Batista said. “That’s not true. I always feel I was a good pitcher, I just always play on teams that end up last.”

Brenly hinted at perhaps a couple lineup changes, but wouldn’t discuss what players he was thinking about removing. Matt Williams is one suspect, having gone 0 for 7 with three strikeouts.

Brenly said he might come back with Schilling, who threw a three-hit shutout in Game 1 Tuesday, on three days’ rest if needed in Game 4 on Saturday. Schilling would replace Albie Lopez (9-19).

St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa said he would not bring back Morris, who dueled Schilling in the 1-0 loss, in Game 4.

The likely starter is rookie left-hander Bud Smith (6-3), who no-hit the San Diego Padres in September, with 14-game winner Dustin Hermanson shifted to the bullpen.

Smith had two relief outings when he first was called up, but he’s been a starter throughout his minor league career. Hermanson was drafted as a reliever and filled in as closer in Montreal last year when Ugueth Urbina was injured.

*

The Diamondbacks, one for 13 with runners in scoring position in the first game, managed only four hits and five baserunners in Game 2. No one reached second base until Craig Counsell got there after singling to lead off the eighth.

Counsell scored on a groundout by Steve Finley, but Luis Gonzalez crowned a miserable two-game performance by grounding out to Albert Pujols at first to end the rally.

Arizona was fourth in NL team average (.267) and became the seventh NL team (first since St. Louis in 1979) to boast nine players with at least 100 hits.

Gonzalez led the team with a .325 average, hit 57 home runs--the eighth player in history with at least that many--and had 419 total bases, ninth-best in baseball history.

But he followed his 0-for-4 effort in the first game by going hitless in four at-bats in Game 2, dropping his postseason batting average to .200 (six for 30).

“I know I don’t have any hits in this series, so I just look at it as I didn’t get any today,” Gonzalez said. “Next game, hopefully I’ll get some. I had 198 hits, so it’s not like I don’t know what I’m doing out there.”

TONIGHT

CARDINALS’

DARRYL KILE

(16-11, 3.09 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

MIGUEL BATISTA

(11-8, 3.36 ERA)

Busch Stadium, 5:15 p.m.

TV--Fox Family.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Update--Kile pitched in the season finale against Houston on Sunday with the NL Central up for grabs, but he had one of his poorest outings, giving up seven runs in 62/3 innings. Batista is a decided step down after Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. He threw eight pitches in the ninth inning of Game 2 and froze on a comebacker, getting no outs instead of perhaps a double play.