There were all kinds of records and career marks being set in the Cardinals 2-1 win over the Pirates Tuesday.
Starter Chris Carpenter struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven shut out innings to get the win. His dominance on the mound set the stage for Braden Looper and Randy Flores to pitch the eighth and hold the lead.
Carpenter is 8-1 in his career against the Pirates and 3-0 this year. He only has two wins in his other nine starts this season. Carpenter’s previous single game strikeout high was 12 set twice last year.
Closer Jason Isringhausen allowed the Pirates to score a run in the ninth and put the tying run on third before striking out Ronny Paulino for the save. The save was No. 161 for Izzy, setting a franchise record previously held by former Cardinal Lee Smith.
Scott Rolen put St. Louis on the board scoring on Juan Encarnacion’s single to center in the fourth. Rolen’s RBI double in the fifth gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Rolen tied a career-high with four hits. The all star third baseman is filling in admirably for injured slugger Albert Pujols. Since Pujols went to the disabled list, June 4, Rolen is hitting .481 (13-27).
The Cardinals are 38-25 and lead the National League Central by three games.
