Cardinals Lose After Kile Memorial

The St. Louis Cardinals have shown there are many ways to honor Darryl Kile. One of them is to win more games.

“As DK put it, we’ve got work to do,” reliever Mike Timlin said. “It may sound cold, but this is what we do.”

The Cardinals, struggling to stay focused, managed only four hits and lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-0, Tuesday night for their fourth consecutive defeat.

Several Cardinals wept openly during a memorial service that began with 57 seconds of silence--Kile’s uniform number--and a video tribute before the team’s first home game since the pitcher died Saturday in Chicago.

Between innings, Kile’s career highlights and accomplishments were listed on the video board. His jersey hung in the dugout tunnel leading to the clubhouse. That made it tough to concentrate.

“Every half-inning they played something for DK,” reliever Steve Kline said. “You watch it and it just hits you again.”

After the game, pitcher Matt Morris issued a brief statement instead of taking questions.

“We’re all still in shock over Darryl,” Morris said.

But Manager Tony La Russa wanted no part of excuses.

“I’m not going to be discussing stuff like that because it’ll be a subject every day and it’s counterproductive,” La Russa said. “Everybody knows how we feel about Darryl.

“I think the game speaks for itself, 2-zip and in the end, what we do for a living, that’s the measure.”

Team personnel wore small black, circular patches with Kile’s initials and number, “DK57,” on their left sleeve. They were already wearing a patch to commemorate the death of longtime broadcaster Jack Buck, who died four days before Kile, on their right sleeve. Larger versions of the patches were on the right-field wall and behind the plate.

The Brewers will participate in a memorial service for Kile today at Busch Stadium.

“I’m glad I’m here,” Manager Jerry Royster said. “It amazes me how the baseball fans in the city of St. Louis handle situations like this.”

Morris (10-5) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking two.

He threw a lot of curveballs in the first few innings, perhaps a tribute to Kile. That was his signature pitch.

The Cardinals have been outscored, 15-6, during the losing streak, which began Thursday, the day of a Busch Stadium visitation and memorial service for Buck.

Glendon Rusch (5-5) retired 13 batters in a row at one point. He struck out three and walked none for his second career shutout. His other one came while with Kansas City in 1998.

“It was a difficult night, knowing what everybody over there is going through and knowing that against Morris, you’re not going to get too many runs,” Rusch said. “My heart goes out to DK’s family.”