ST. LOUIS — The skid continues for the St. Louis Cardinals, whose NL Central lead is down to one game. Vladimir Guerrero hit his 29th home run as the Montreal Expos sent the Cardinals to their seventh straight loss, 4-1 Wednesday night.

        The drought is their longest since they also dropped seven straight in August 1999, and their once comfortable lead of five games is gone with the Astros a game back and the Reds two games behind.

        “Do you think it's happy in here?” reliever Steve Kline said. “Hell, no. Everybody is trying as hard as they can but it's not working out.”

        St. Louis has been outscored 45-14 during the slump and has scored only one run in each of its last four games. Manager Tony La Russa had a report time of 5 p.m. for the finale at 7:10 p.m. CDT Thursday, 1 1/2 hours later than usual.

        “It's just to change the routine,” La Russa said. “The routine's not working. Something's not working, you do something different.”

        Guerrero hit a two-run shot in the first off Jason Simontacchi (7-4) as the Expos won for the fourth time in six games. Guerrero needs one homer to become the fifth player to hit 200 before his 27th birthday, which will be Feb. 9.

        “He does things on a daily basis that amaze you,” manager Frank Robinson said. “He's just scratching the surface with his ability.”

        Tomo Ohka (9-6) beat the Cardinals for the second time this season, giving up six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He worked out of trouble in the fourth when Eli Marrero grounded out with the bases loaded for the final out, and Jose Macias saved a run with a diving catch of Albert Pujols' sinking liner to center to end the fifth.

        The Cardinals also botched a double steal of home to end the sixth, burning two pinch-hitters in the process, when Scott Rolen broke from third too early after Marrero got hung up between first and second.

        Scott Stewart got the last four outs for his 15th save in 17 chances.

        Macias had three hits and drove in a run. He is 7-for-10 the first two games of the three-game series, raising his average 28 points to .287.

        Macias doubled and scored in the first, singled in the third and hit an RBI single in the seventh.

        “Macias does whatever he has to do,” Robinson said. “He got three hits and I was a little disappointed he didn't get a fourth.”

        Brian Schneider also homered for the Expos in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals got a run in the bottom of the fifth when Simontacchi singled and came around to score on Jim Edmonds' groundout.

        The Expos restored the three-run gap on Macias' RBI single in the seventh.

        Kline had to be restrained by batting coach Mitchell Page and teammates from approaching home plate umpire Bruce Froemming after giving up a run on two hits in the seventh. During that inning, Kline threw a wild pitch behind Macias after allowing a double to reliever Joey Eischen.

        A frustrated Kline was tossing trash cans and gloves in the dugout when Froemming approached first. Froemming said Kline's display was inappropriate.

        ”'You're acting like a crazy person,' is what he told me,” Kline said. “What's his business? Go back and sit back behind the plate and have a cheeseburger and watch the game. Whatever. Just leave me alone.”

        Manager Tony La Russa was ejected with one out in the bottom of the seventh after continuing the argument with Froemming.

        “This guy gives up a double to the pitcher and he's mad at himself,” La Russa said. “I'm happy he's mad. We're supposed to care out here. You don't do things like that and just walk back and say 'Hah, hah, big deal.”'

        Simontacchi lasted six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, and is 0-3 in his last six starts.

        Simontacchi shaved his goatee and mustache in disgust after his last start, in which he gave up nine runs in one-plus innings at Atlanta last Friday. He concentrated on his two best pitches, the fastball and changeup, instead of featuring a slider this time.

        “It comes down to trusting yourself,” Simontacchi said. “It was good for me to get back on my plan.”

        Rolen, who had been in an 0-for-19 slump, was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
        Notes: The Cardinals haven't homered in 58 innings. ... Guerrero had two hits and is 12-for-31 during an eight-game hitting streak. ... Eischen and Matt Cepicky of the Expos each got his first career hit. ... La Russa has been ejected three times in the last six home games since July 18. ... The Expos and Cardinals are all even at 258 victories apiece since play began in 1969.

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