The Cardinals took their three-game series with the Cubs in dominating fashion Thursday night. Chris Carpenter pitched eight innnings and allowed no runs off eight hits, no walks and five strikeouts to lead St. Louis to a 4-0 win at Busch Stadium. Even though Carpenter entered Thursday’s contest with a .103 batting average, he also took charge at the plate. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI to improve to 8-2 on the season. The three other runs were the result of a bases loaded-error in the fourth and RBI’s from Tony Womack and Mike Matheny. The victory lifted the Cardinals to a three-game lead over Chicago and Cincinnati in the National League Central.
