Chris Carpenter delivers a pitch during his rehab start in Springfield, MO. (Chase Snider – KTTS Radio)
The road back to the major leagues for Chris Carpenter began in Springfield Monday night. The one time Cardinal ace and former Cy Young winner pitched 2.2 innings in a rehab start for the Double-A Cardinals. Carpenter says so far so good, but he has much to prove.
Carpenter threw 54 pitches, 38 strikes and 16 balls. He allowed three runs, two earned, six hits, two walks, with a homer and five strikeouts in a 5-3 loss to Arkansas. According to Carp, his next start will come either with Springfield or Triple-A Memphis. He said he’s nowhere near pitching for the big league club yet.
AUDIO Chris Carpenter postgame comments (3:30)
The Springfield club sold out Hammon’s Field ahead of Carpenter’s start. 9,709 fans were at the game–the sixth sell out of the season–and second largest crowd of 2013.