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Carpenter, Correia square off at Busch

Apr 6, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Opening Day starters return to the mound this afternoon at Busch Stadium as St. Louis' Chris Carpenter tries to give the Cardinals consecutive wins for the first time this season opposite Pittsburgh's Kevin Correia in the finale of a three-game set.

Albert Pujols broke out of a mini-slump to start the year with two RBI and Allen Craig had two hits and drove in the other run to help the Cards capture a 3-2 win Tuesday.

Kyle McClellan went six innings in his first big-league start, allowing two runs on six hits. The right-hander also had seven strikeouts and one walk. Miguel Batista (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless frames to pick up the win, while Ryan Franklin pitched a scoreless ninth for St. Louis, earning his first save of the season.

All of the Pirates' offense came in the first inning courtesy of Lyle Overbay's two-run blast. Pittsburgh starter James McDonald lasted only 4 2/3 frames, charged with two runs on four hits. Garrett Olson (0-1) took the loss in relief after putting on Ryan Theriot, who scored on Pujols' go-ahead RBI single in the seventh.

Correia takes the hill this evening aiming to give the Bucs a second series win to start the year. The 30-year-old right-hander received his first-ever Opening Day nod last Thursday and impressed in besting the Cubs with six solid innings. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits while fanning three and walking one.

Correia faced the Cardinals twice last season -- once in relief -- and did not allow a run in 7 2/3 innings of work. No small feat considering he walked seven batters. In 11 career appearances versus the Redbirds, including four starts, Correia is 1-2 with a 3.34 earned-run average.

Carpenter also pitched well in his Opening Day assignment, though he did not receive a decision in St. Louis' 5-3, 11-inning loss to San Diego. The 35- year-old righty worked seven innings and yielded just two hits and a pair of runs with four strikeouts and two walks.

In two starts against Pittsburgh last year CArpenter failed to receive a decision, despite posting a 1.20 ERA in 15.0 innings. He had 14 strikeouts against just three walks in that span. Carpenter has lost just once in 15 career starts versus the Pirates, notching 11 wins and pitching to a 2.12 ERA in 110 1/3 innings.

St. Louis won nine of the 15 games against Pittsburgh last season.