Schilling and Morris in Fight to the Finish

It will be a rematch of heavyweights, minus the pre-fight taunts, the pay-per-view designation and Don King’s hair.

It could be called “Morris and Schilling, weather permitting” if not for the retractable dome in Phoenix that will ensure that the bell rings on time today.

When Matt Morris and Curt Schilling stood toe-to-toe five days ago, the ace right-handers produced the first 1-0 game in division series history. Schilling threw a three-hit shutout, while Morris gave up one run on six hits over seven innings.

Can Morris pitch any better in the deciding Game 5?

“Well, I can win the game,” he responded. “[But] I’m wondering if he can pitch any better. He has to go out and throw a complete-game shutout to match his performance.”

Apprised of that comment, Schilling responded: “I don’t need to pitch a better game. We need to win. I need to, at the end of the day, give up one run less than Matt does.”

Those who know Schilling say he is a master at preparing a game plan. The night before his starts, he flips open his laptop and pores over a database that includes CDs containing video clips of some 20,000 of his pitches dating to 1995. He also keeps a notebook on every hitter he has faced.

“He gets himself ready better than any pitcher I’ve ever seen,” said teammate Steve Finley..

*

St. Louis infielder Placido Polanco recorded three sacrifice hits Saturday, equaling the postseason record set by the Chicago Cubs’ Joe Tinker in the 1906 World Series against the Chicago White Sox. The Cardinals’ seven sacrifice bunts in four games set a division series record.

TODAY

CARDINALS’

MATT MORRIS

(0-1, 1.29 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

CURT SCHILLING

(1-0, 0.00 ERA) Bank One Ballpark, 4:45 p.m.

TV--Channel 11

Update--Schilling’s three-hit shutout gave Arizona a 1-0 victory in Game 1 Tuesday. Morris gave up six hits and one run in seven innings.