Cardinals Shutout Cubs, 3-0

Tuesday, May 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Matt Morris pitched a four-hitter and St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 Monday night in their first game since accusations of sign-stealing last week at Wrigley Field.

In Morris' previous start, he gave up a home run to Sammy Sosa, prompting the Cardinals to claim the Cubs slugger got help on pitch location from his coaches.

Morris reacted by saying he might throw a pitch in someone's ear the next time he faced the Cubs. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa later said Morris apologized for his comments.

This time, Sosa was held to a single in four at-bats as the Cubs lost their fifth in a row. There were no apparent signs of animosity between the teams.

Sosa, something of a fan favorite in St. Louis from his home run battles with Mark McGwire in 1998 and '99, was booed before each of his at-bats.

Morris (6-2) struck out seven, walked two and retired 20 of the 21 batters at one stretch. The Cardinals won for the fourth time in five games.

Tino Martinez hit his third homer, and first in 33 at-bats since May 1, in the sixth off Kerry Wood (4-3).