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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Cards 5, Reds 0: Carpenter lifts Cardinals with four-hitter
ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter refused to allow the St. Louis Cardinals' fast-dwindling NL Central lead to clutter his mind.
The 2005 Cy Young Award winner threw a four-hitter and Ronnie Belliard had three hits and two RBIs in his biggest game since joining the Cardinals at the trade deadline, helping them stop a three-game skid with a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
"To be honest with you, I don't treat it any different," Carpenter said. "I need to go out and concentrate on making pitches and don't concern myself with the importance of the game."
Chris Duncan hit a two-run homer off Aaron Harang (12-8) as part of a three-hit night and Albert Pujols also had three hits for the Cardinals, who totaled three runs while getting swept in a three-game weekend series at last-place Pittsburgh.
St. Louis won for the second time in seven games overall and beat the second-place Reds for the fifth time in 13 tries, moving 2 1/2 games in front.
Carpenter (11-6) squandered a 5-0 lead at Cincinnati last Wednesday while ending with a no-decision in a one-run loss. He was 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in his past three starts. This time, he allowed only four singles, ran only one three-ball count and allowed only one runner to reach second base.
"He just didn't miss," said Cincinnati's Scott Hatteberg, who was 0-for-4. "He had a stripe on the inside corner for lefties and he hit it going this way and going that way at will.
"When he's got that and 95 (mph), man, that's unhittable."
Carpenter didn't allow a hit until Adam Dunn singled with one out in the fifth. The right-hander struck out six with no walks and a hit batsman.
Carpenter, who has lost twice to the Reds this season, is 3-3 during his career against Cincinnati and now has a losing record against only two NL teams -- the Mets and Brewers. He has two shutouts this season, the other coming on a two-hitter against the Dodgers on July 14, and 11 during his career.
Harang lasted five innings, his shortest start since June 12 against Milwaukee -- not counting a two-inning appearance in a rain-delayed game. He gave up five runs and eight hits, losing for the first time in three decisions at new Busch Stadium.
Harang threw an inning of relief on Friday in a 14-inning loss at Philadelphia, but did not believe that was a factor.
"You can't blame that," Harang said. "It's just one of those nights where I didn't feel everything was there and just felt off."
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