Carpenter’s scoreless streak reaches 14 innings

Chris Carpenter looked impressive again as he threw 64 pitches over six scoreless innings as the Cardinals scored early to beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 Wednesday afternoon.  Carpenter has not given up a run this spring.

Carpenter was efficient again in striking out two and walking just one.  He got some defensive help when Joe Mather made a great play at third to keep a run from scoring in the fourth inning.

The Cards got off to a quick start scoring two runs in the first inning. 
Skip Schumaker, who made a great back handed grab to end the first inning, led off with a walk and scored on an error when Albert Pujols hit into a sure 5-4-3 double play.  Pujols instead wound up at second and scored on a single to left by Ryan Ludwick.

Manager Tony LaRussa says Yadier Molina needs at-bats despite playing quite a bit for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.  Molina had a single in his first at-bat.  The Cards added insurance in the sixth, when Pujols doubled down the left field line to score Schumaker to put the Cards up 3-0.