Chris Carpenter came up with another gem for the St. Louis Cardinals, and he helped the Philadelphia Phillies too.
Carpenter became the first 19-game winner in the major leagues, and David Eckstein went 4-for-5 with three RBIs as St. Louis beat the Florida Marlins 6-1 Monday. Florida missed a chance to tie Philadelphia for the NL wild-card lead.
“If Carpenter hadn’t been out there, it might have been easier,” Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. “He was tough in the clutch. That’s why he’s a 19-game winner.”
Carpenter improved to 11-0 in his last 14 starts. He will bid for his first 20-win season Saturday at Houston.
Jeff Conine drove in Florida’s run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, ending a streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings pitched by the Cardinals.
No room in rotation for Mets’ Trachsel
The Mets will start five pitchers in the next six games, but Steve Trachsel will not be one of them.
Trachsel told the New York Post he was surprised at being skipped in the rotation after allowing two hits in eight scoreless innings in his first start of the season Friday. “I guess I should have thrown a no-hitter,” he said.
Extra innings
Padres ace Jake Peavy cut his non-throwing left hand while taking out the trash Monday morning but said he’ll be OK to start Tuesday night. San Diego placed right-hander Pedro Astacio on the 15-day DL (strained right quadriceps). . . . Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He’s expected to return by spring training.
MONDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
St. Louis 6 at Florida 1
W: Carpenter (19-4)
L: Burnett (12-8)
Florida’s A.J. Burnett gave up 6 BBs, 4 led to runs–including 1 to Cards starter Chris Carpenter, .031 hitter. Burnett threw 95 pitches in 5 IP. Manager Jack McKeon: “He wasn’t on his game.”
Arizona 7 at San Diego 5
W: Ortiz (5-8)
L: Williams (6-11)
Troy Glaus’ sac fly, Chad Tracy’s 2-run HR, Kelly Stinnett’s inside-the-park HR accounted for Arizona’s 4-run 4th for 5-1 lead. Catcher Miguel Olivo’s 2-run double in 9th pulled Padres within 7-5.
Colorado 2 at San Francisco 1
W: Kim (4-10)
L: Cain (0-1)
S: Fuentes (25)
Byung-Hyun Kim earned 1st win in 7 road starts this season. At 20 years, 332 days, Matt Cain became youngest Giants pitcher to make 1st big-league start since Mark Grant on April 27, 1984.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, ppd
Afternoon game rained out, will be made up as part of doubleheader on Sept. 16 when Reds play Pirates for 3rd time in 4 weekends. Pirates’ Paul Maholm will make 1st ML start Tues.
Washington at Atlanta, ppd
Hurricane Katrina’s heavy rain forced postponement. Will be made up as part of DH on Wed. Monday’s starters, Braves’ Jorge Sosa (9-2) vs. Nats’ John Patterson (8-4), pushed back to Tues.
