Milchin, Cards blank Clearwater

Mike Milchin struck out a season-high 11 batters and allowed three hits as the St. Petersburg Cardinals posted a 2-0 shutout of the Clearwater Phillies on Thursday night. Milchin, who faced four batters just twice, kept the Phillies off-balance with a mix of fastballs, curves and changeups. The Phillies never got a runner past first and got their leadoff hitter on just once.

Catcher Tony Lozinski singled to lead off the ninth, but was erased when pinch-hitter Ed Rosado hit into a double play. Milchin (5-0) struck out Woody Woodruff to end the game and the right-hander had his first complete game of the season.

"I felt pretty good," Milchin said. "Later in the game I got a little tired and I got (even) better control."

The Cardinals added to their 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh when shortstop Tripp Cromer took Phillies starter Alex Madrid (1-1) deep to leftfield.

"I knew we wouldn't score many runs tonight," Milchin said. "But things worked out for us."

Dunedin 1, Sarasota 0

DUNEDIN _ Three Dunedin pitchers combined on a seven-hit shutout and catcher Greg O'Halloran singled in the game's only run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Blue Jays defeated the Sarasota White Sox 1-0.

Dennis Boucher pitched the first seven innings for the Jays, giving up five hits and striking out 10. Al Silverstein (2-1) allowed two hits in 1 innings to pick up the win. Mike Timlin got the final out for his 10th save.

Dunedin plays host to Vero Beach tonight at 7.

_ Times correspondent Bob Miller contributed to this report.