Carpenter struggles in loss to Cubs

CHICAGO -- Casey Coleman bolstered his case for a spot in the Chicago Cubs' rotation next year with another solid performance.

Coleman pitched seven strong innings, Sam Fuld hit a key two-run single off Chris Carpenter and Chicago beat St. Louis 7-3 on Saturday, damaging the Cardinals' flickering playoff hopes.

Coleman (3-2) buckled down after St. Louis got to him for three early runs, finishing with four scoreless innings.

The 23-year-old right-hander allowed five hits, struck out four and walked two in his seventh major league start.

"We've seem him do that time and time again," Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "I'm sure he would like to be lights out from start to finish, but we know that's not how the game is. He makes adjustments on the fly very well and he makes them himself."

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols yells at first base umpire Dan Bellino after Cubs base runner Kosuke Fukudome scored on a throwing error during the third inning Saturday in Chicago. (PAUL BEATY ~ Associated Press)

Coleman, who made his major league debut in relief Aug. 2 against Milwaukee, is 3-1 with a 3.68 ERA in his last six starts.

"I've had some rough innings since I've been up here, but my teammates pick me up and score runs and make great plays," he said.

Blake DeWitt and Aramis Ramirez had two hits and two RBIs apiece for Chicago, which trailed 3-0 in the third inning.

Carpenter (15-9) lasted just four innings, and reliever Blake Hawksworth was hit in the face by a Fuld liner in the fifth, sending the right-hander to the hospital.

"He's getting a CT scan," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "But there's going to be quite a few stitches. He never lost consciousness. There's a chance he'll need to have some dental work. We'll just have to wait and see what the scan says."

St. Louis' loss dropped the magic number for Cincinnati to clinch the NL Central title to two. The Reds lost 4-3 at San Diego later Saturday.

Albert Pujols hit an RBI double in St. Louis' two-run third, but the Cubs responded by scoring four runs with two out in the bottom half.

Ramirez singled in DeWitt, and Kosuke Fukudome scored on catcher Bryan Anderson's throwing error, cutting it to 3-2. Carpenter then intentionally walked Alfonso Soriano to get to Fuld, who grounded a two-run single up the middle.

Ramirez added another RBI single in the fourth and DeWitt tripled in a pair of runs in the fifth. Both hits also came with two out.

Carpenter allowed five runs and seven hits, dropping him to 0-4 with an 8.44 ERA in his last four starts. The right-hander also has lost his last three starts against the Cubs.