Carpenter builds on rotation's success

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter kept the St. Louis Cardinals' unsung rotation humming.

Carpenter allowed four hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and the Cardinals used a three-run fourth to beat the Florida Marlins 4-0 on Saturday.

A starting five that totaled 42 victories last year has averaged nearly seven innings in the first five games of a six-game homestand and contributed to four victories.

"People were really half-hearted listening to us when we were going to spring training, seeing what we had to work with," Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny said. "If they continue to put out the performances they've had, we're going to have a lot of people saying a lot of things about this staff."

Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Edgar Renteria drove in a run apiece in the fourth inning against Darren Oliver. Matheny had two hits and an RBI, as the Cardinals moved three games above .500 for the first time this season at 20-17. They're 10-12 at home.

"It's real good if we build on it," manager Tony La Russa said. "If this is the best week of the season, it's not going to be too good."

Carpenter (4-1) controlled the Marlins with a sinking fastball that resulted in only one flyball out, continuing his comeback after missing all of last season following shoulder surgery. He struck out five, walked two and benefited from three double plays, pitching to only three batters above the minimum through seven innings before tiring.

"When he got in a bind, he didn't just make strike pitches," Matheny said. "He thought about what he was trying to do, and he executed."

Mike Lowell flied out to the left-field wall with the bases loaded against Julian Tavarez for the last out of the eighth, the Marlins' best scoring opportunity. Tavarez then got the last three outs for his second save.

Carpenter beat the Marlins for the first time in five career starts. He was 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA against Florida in four interleague starts while he was with the Blue Jays, the last of which came on June 9, 2001.

In his last two starts, Carpenter has allowed two runs on eight hits in 15 1/3 innings to lower his ERA to 3.86.