Carpenter to the rescue for the Cardinals

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter finally got another win. He had more than enough help.

The Cardinals starter who hadn't won since May 10 threw seven strong innings, and Jon Jay and Lance Berkman homered to lead St. Louis to a 12-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

Carpenter (2-7) allowed one run and five hits to end a string of seven successive starts without a win. Carpenter struck out seven and walked one.

"I still feel like I'm a quality guy that runs out there every fifth day," Carpenter said. "I believe in myself and I believe in my stuff, and my ability to get outs."

St. Louis won for the first time since three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols fractured his left forearm Sunday. The Cardinals managed just two runs and 11 hits during the first two games without Pujols, who is out four to six weeks.

Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay rounds the bases after smacking a solo home run during the first inning Thursday in St. Louis. (JEFF ROBERSON ~ Associated Press)

Philadelphia starter Roy Oswalt (4-6) left after two innings due to tightness in his lower back. He gave up four runs and five hits in his shortest start since a two-inning outing in a 9-7 loss to Atlanta on Sept. 10, 2009.

"I was more heaving the ball than throwing the ball," Oswalt said. "I'll have an MRI on Monday, I think."

The Phillies, who were looking to sweep the three-game series, closed a six-game road trip at 3-3.

Carpenter entered the game with the 11th-lowest run support among NL starters at 3.38 runs per game. His teammates scored once in the first, three times in the second and once in the third to give him an early 5-0 cushion.

Carpenter has gone at least six innings in 14 of 16 starts this season. He allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last six starts but was unable to pick up a victory due to the lack of offensive support.

Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter delivers during the first inning Thursday.

"I just feel like every time he's taken the mound, he's had hard luck," Berkman said. "The guy just can't catch a break."

Carpenter retired 10 of the first 11 hitters. He gave up three successive singles in the sixth, including a run-scoring hit by Ryan Howard with two outs.

Mostly, he just baffled the Phillies, though.

"He was nasty the whole game," Cardinals rookie catcher Tony Cruz said. "Whatever I called, he was there. He was just on."

Jay hit his fifth homer of the season, a 422-foot shot to right off Oswalt to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Berkman capped a six-run outburst in the eighth inning with a three-run home run, his 18th round-tripper of the season.