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Cardinals whip Phillies 7-1 behind Carpenter

Jul 21, 2010 - 3:56 AM By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS(AP) -- Without his best stuff, Chris Carpenter was good enough to make the National League All-Star team. Since the break he's been virtually untouchable.

Carpenter worked eight dominant innings and the St. Louis Cardinals got home runs from Randy Winn and Matt Holliday, winning their seventh in a row with a 7-1 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. Five times he needed fewer than 10 pitches to retire the side.

"I was throwing a lot of good sinkers and they were hitting them in the ground early in the count," Carpenter said. "Getting quick outs, that's what happens when you throw quality pitches early to a team that wants to hit."

Phillies 47-year-old starter Jamie Moyer strained his elbow and lasted only one inning and almost certainly is headed for the 15-day disabled list. The Phillies have lost five of six since the All-Star break and demoted another starter earlier in the day, sending Kyle Kendrick to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The door to manager Charlie Manuel's office was closed for more than a half-hour after the game while the Phillies discussed their options. One of them would be recalling Kendrick, and Manuel said the team was waiting for minor league affiliates to check in.

"We were talking about things we wanted to do," Manuel said. "We've got a plan. It will work its way out."

Moyer said he expected to pitch again this season.

"When that is, I have no idea," Moyer said. "My goal is to keep a positive mental outlook whatever the diagnosis is."

Carpenter (11-3) faced the Phillies for the first time since opening day in 2006 at Philadelphia and was removed after throwing only 90 pitches and allowing a run on five hits. He benefited from two double plays, one that he started, plus a pair of nifty fielding plays by shortstop Brendan Ryan and Albert Pujols in the sixth to strand Jimmy Rollins at third.

"I can still get better," Carpenter said. "I've still got room for improvement."

Carpenter also threw eight innings of four-hit ball and allowing one run in a victory over the Dodgers on Thursday.

"Even when he's not in his groove he's real good," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's been sharper, and he made a lot of good pitches against a good lineup."

The Cardinals have outscored the opposition 41-16 during their longest winning streak since winning seven in a row July 7-16, 2006.

Holliday is 7 for 15 with five RBIs during the homestand, raising his average to .309. He has 11 homers and 31 RBIs the last 27 games. Winn homered for the second straight game and had three RBIs, and Felipe Lopez had three hits.

"You win six or seven in a row, whatever it is, you've got to play pretty well, especially with the quality of opponents we've played," Holliday said. "The pitching's been great and we've able to score some runs, so it's a good formula to win."

Placido Polanco had two hits, including a triple, and is hitting .352 (19 for 54) during a 12-game hitting streak. The Phillies have been outscored 46-20 during their slump, getting their run in the seventh on consecutive one-out doubles by Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino.

Moyer threw 18 pitches in the first, allowing two-out hits by Albert Pujols and Holliday followed by a double steal before getting Allen Craig on a lineout.

Winn's two-run homer in the third off Andrew Carpenter (0-1) started the scoring and Holliday's 17th of the season off Danys Baez was a three-run shot in the fifth that made it 6-0.

NOTES: Ryan Howard doubled in the ninth and is batting .375 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in his hometown ballpark. ... The Cardinals are 38-21 in games started by Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia, and 15-20 otherwise. ... Phillies pitchers had an assist in the first five innings. ... Members of Chicago and the Doobie Brothers watched batting practice. ... Werth had three hits and is 4 for 6 against Carpenter with a homer and two RBIs. ... Pujols has 10 steals, getting to double digits for the second straight season and third time overall. ... Ryan Ludwick (calf) hit a two-run homer in his first rehab at-bat for Triple-A Memphis. He was 1 for 3 and played five innings in right field. ... Cardinals SS Tyler Greene said he was ready to play after missing his third start with a bruised right hand from getting hit by a pitch Saturday. Greene took batting practice before the game and said there was minimal discomfort.