Losing outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. might have been less painful if the Reds had a 21-year-old surprise make the team and then tear up the National League the first eight weeks of the season. That's what happened to the St. Louis Cardinals, who begin a three-game series at Cinergy Field today.

        The Cardinals have a half-game lead in the National League Central over the Chicago Cubs (7 1/2 over the fifth-place Reds). The Cardinals lost their star, first baseman Mark McGwire, in mid-April, but have flourished with the emergence of Albert Pujols.

        Pujols ranks among the NL leaders in batting (.364), RBI (46), home runs (14) and hits (60), despite playing four positions (first base, third base, right field and left field).

        “If he was doing this with five or 10 years of experience in the big leagues, you'd say, "Boy, is he a good player,'” St.Louis manager Tony LaRussa told the Milwaukee Journal. “To do it with one year of experience — one year of professional experience — this guy is really special. Special and incredible.”

        St. Louis also has not had as many injuries as the Reds, whose disabled list includes Griffey, shortstop Barry Larkin, third baseman Aaron Boone and pitchers Scott Williamson and Pete Harnisch. The Cardinals' payroll ($78 million, tops in the NL Central, vs. the Reds' $44 million) affords them more depth, and St. Louis' starting pitching entering the season was widely acknowledged as superior to the Reds.

        As for Pujols, a good spring and an injury to Bobby Bonilla put him on the Open ing Day roster.

        “Nobody expected him to come and hit fourth and do what he's done,” said former Cardinals outfielder and current broadcaster Mike Shannon. “Plus, he's played well wherever La Russa put him.

        “Everyone saw he had talent. But I don't think anyone could have predicted this after one year of pro baseball.”

        Pujols has received a lot of help lately from J.D. Drew, 25, the other phenom on the roster, who is hitting .297 with 17 home runs and 37 RBI — including nine home runs and 23 RBI in May. Jim Edmonds (.328, 7 HRs, 28 RBI), Fernando Vina (.309) and Ray Lankford (11 HRs, 25 RBI) also have contributed.

        McGwire (knee), who holds the single-season home run record with 70 in 1998, is expected back in early June.

        The starting pitching — except for Rick Ankiel, whose wildness forced a demotion to the minor leagues — has been good, led by Darryl Kile (6-3, 3.38 ERA), Matt Morris (6-3, 2.69) and Dustin Hermanson (5-1, 4.14).

        Andy Benes (3-3, 6.60) has struggled, but Mike Matthews, who took Ankiel's spot in the rotation, is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA.

        “Pitching,” said Shannon, “runs baseball.”

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