JUPITER, Fla. (AP) _ Kent Bottenfield, coming off an 18-game victory season, hasn't allowed an earned run in three starts this spring.

Bottenfield struck out seven in five innings, allowing three hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Montreal Expos 3-1 Thursday.

``My curveball is coming around, and today the location on my fastball was exactly where I would want it at the start of the season,'' Bottenfield said.

In 10 innings, Bottenfield has given up six hits and two unearned runs, striking out eight and walking five.

``I hadn't been able to get any strikeouts until today,'' he said. ``It's a natural progression, getting stronger and going longer.''

Bottenfield said he wants to improve his performance against right-handed batters and get more groundballs this year.

``The byproduct of these two factors will be that I can go deeper into the game,'' he said. ``A good starting pitcher should be able to go seven or eight innings each time. I think I averaged about six last year.''

Jose Vidro tripled in the first and scored on a two-out error by second baseman Fernando Vina on a Vladimir Guerrero's grounder.

David Wainhouse, Jim Dougherty and Dave Veres followed Bottenfield and finished with hitless relief, combining for six strikeouts and one walk.

``They all pitched well, especially with the wind blowing out the way it was,'' Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Montreal's Javier Vazques allowed three hits in five shutout innings and struck out five.

Craig Paquette hit a two-run homer in the seventh off loser Mike Johnson, and the Cardinals scored an unearned run off Anthony Telford in the eighth.

Notes: Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire was scratched after complaining of tightness in his groin. It was not believed to be serious and he is expected to make the trip to Vero Beach on Friday to play the Dodgers. ... RHP Alan Benes is to pitch in a ``B'' game Friday against Montreal. Benes, 28, has missed most of the past two seasons with a right shoulder injury that twice required surgery.