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Cards' Carpenter squares off with Pirates

Aug 27, 2011 - 3:16 PM (Sports Network) - Chris Carpenter has dominated the Pirates in his career.

The Cardinals need the former Cy Young Award winner to be at his best this afternoon when they resume a four-game series against Pittsburgh.

Carpenter is 12-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 18 career games against the Pirates. That includes a 6-1 mark with a 1.65 ERA in nine starts at St. Louis. The three- time All-Star selection and 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner didn't get a decision when facing Pittsburgh on August 16, a game the Pirates won, 5-4, at PNC Park in 11 innings.

Carpenter is 2-0 over his last four starts and has worked very hard to keep the ball in the park recently. He's given up just two homers in his last 13 games.

Brad Lincoln gets another crack at his first second major league win and first this season. The 26-year-old right-hander will be making his seventh appearance (third start) of 2011. In his last start, he limited the Brewers to a pair of runs in six innings but had a no decision in Pittsburgh's 9-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader Monday night at PNC Park.

Lincoln allowed two runs -- one earned -- in a pair of innings of relief against the Cardinals on August 17 at PNC Park.

Despite a 5-4 win last night for the Cardinals, they are still 9 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for first in the NL Central.

Lance Berkman's two-run homer in the eighth inning lifted the Cardinals to the win. Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer for the Cardinals, who have won two in a row since a three-game skid.

St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook gave up four runs on seven hits over six-plus innings. He walked five and struck out three. Kyle McClellan (10-6) tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth to pick up the win.

Jose Tabata, Josh Harrison, Ryan Doumit and Andrew McCutchen each drove in a run for the Pirates.

James McDonald allowed three runs on five hits over six-plus innings for Pittsburgh.

"I couldn't get my breaking ball over to help my fastball," McDonald said.

Jose Veras (2-4) gave up the homer to Berkman to suffer the loss.

The Pirates loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but Cedeno flied out to end the threat.

Pittsburgh's inability to extend its lead came back to haunt them, as the Cardinals took the advantage in the eighth. Matt Holliday worked a one-out walk and crossed the plate on Berkman's blast to right.

"You're not stepping into the batter's box saying 'I need to hit a home run right here,'" Berkman said. "Generally you're just saying, 'Let's get a good pitch to hit.'"

The Cardinals hold a 6-5 series lead in 2011 vs. the Buccos. St. Louis will return to Pittsburgh once more this season, September 12-14.