You couldn’t have asked for anything better in Chris Carpenter’s 2009 debut. Carp allowed one hit and one unearned run in seven innings, as the Cardinals split a four-gameseries with the Pirates by winning 2-1.
Carpenter took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. He fastball was nasty with great movement and he was hitting his spots. He was making Pittsburgh swing and miss on his offspeed stuff as well getting his curve ball in for strikes.
The Pirates scored the unearned run in the third and it looked like it might hold up as the Cardinals were unable to get much going until the 7th when Brian Barden delivered a single up the middle to give the Cardinals the lead after Yadier Molina tied the game after singles by Ryan Ludwick and a bunt single by Khalil Greene. Dennys Reyes closed the game in the 9th.
Craig Monroe flew out deep to the track in center to end the game.
