J.D. Drew (right) is greeted by Craig Paquette after hitting a two-run homer in the seventh. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds got an idea of how different the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals are from the 1999 Cardinals in the first two games of their weekend series. The stars of the Saturday's 3-1 St. Louis win illustrated that.

        They saw Darryl Kile, the Coors Field refugee obtained in an offseason trade with Colorado, throwing 6ö innings of shutout ball to improve his record to 6-1.

        And they saw J.D. Drew, last year's struggling rookie, delivering the big hit, a two-run homer off Rob Bell.

        “It was very similar to (Friday's) game,” St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa said. “Great pitching. Then a hero steps up.”

        The Reds won Friday on Ken Griffey Jr.'s homer. So, the teams have been evenly matched.

        The Cardinals are a very different team from the one which finished last year 75-83. The Cardinals are 19-11.

        “They're the best team we've seen so far,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said.

        The Cardinals were playing Saturday without Mark McGwire, who was not at the game, and Fernando Tatis, who is on the disabled list. McGwire left town to attend to a personal matter. He is expected back today.

        McGwire and Tatis carried the Cards offensively last year. This year, the line up is more balanced and the starting pitching is much improved.

        The St. Louis starters are 16-7. Kile went 8-13 with a 6.61 ERA for Colorado last year.

        The change in scenery at a lower altitude has helped immensely. He's been good in every start, except one. He allowed 11 runs ins 1ö innings in a start against Colorado at Coors.

        The Reds only managed five hits off him.

        “It ws one of those games,” Kile said. “They missed some pitches they'd usually hit.”

        It was scoreless until the seventh. Craig Paquette hit a one-out double.

        Drew followed with a shot into the right-field green seats.

        “It was a breaking ball a little up,” Drew said. “I was trying to stay back and just put it in play. I was fortunate.”

        Drew was the first player picked in the 1997 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He didn't sign, holding out for $11 million. The Cards picked him fifth in the 1998 draft and signed him.

        After 45 games in the minors, he was promoted to St. Louis. He played well after his callup in 1998 (.417 in 14 games). Last year, he hit .242 and struck out 77 times in 368 at-bats.

        This year, he's hitting .327. The home run was his fifth to go along with 17 RBI.

        McGwire, Tatis, Jim Edmonds have been the focus of the offense. Drew, who hits seventh, is more of role player.

        “I'm more comfortable,” he said. “I'm still learning.”

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