Carpenter Is First 16-Game Winner

Chris Carpenter pitched a three-hitter Tuesday night to become the major leagues’ first 16-game winner in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 3-1 victory over Florida at St. Louis.

John Gall drove in the first two runs of his career, and Jim Edmonds had a run-scoring single for the Cardinals, who have won five of eight and have the National League’s best record at 67-39.

Carpenter (16-4) struck out six and walked one. In his last nine starts, he is 8-0 with an 0.83 earned-run average and 68 strikeouts and 11 walks in 75 2/3 innings. His overall ERA dropped to 2.26.

He needed only 109 pitches, 81 strikes, to throw his fifth complete game and the 18th of his career.

Dontrelle Willis (14-7) gave up three runs -- one earned -- and three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

For his career, Willis is 29-10 before the All-Star break and 9-14 after.

San Diego 11, Pittsburgh 3 -- Jake Peavy (9-4) pitched seven innings and struck out nine at Pittsburgh to help the Padres to only their second victory in 14 games.

The Padres took advantage of Pirate starter Kip Wells’ wildness to open a 5-0 lead in the fourth. Wells walked five batters in 3 2/3 innings, and three scored.

Houston 3, Arizona 1 -- Roger Clemens (10-4) threw seven innings of four-hit ball to earn his 338th victory one day before his 43rd birthday, and the Astros defeated the Diamondbacks at Phoenix.

Chad Tracy homered for the Diamondbacks, who fell a game behind San Diego in the NL West.

Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1 -- Carlos Zambrano (8-4) pitched eight scoreless innings, and Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run single in the eighth as the Cubs held on to win at Philadelphia. Ryan Dempster gave up a run and walked four but worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 15th save.

Atlanta 12, Cincinnati 2 -- Chipper Jones homered and drove in four runs before leaving because of a sore right shoulder, and the Braves ended the Reds’ season-high five-game winning streak at Cincinnati.

Colorado 4, San Francisco 3 -- Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer, and Jamey Wright (6-11) pitched six strong innings to end a three-game losing streak, leading the Rockies over the Giants at San Francisco.

New York 9, Milwaukee 8 -- Pinch-hitter Mike Piazza drew a walk from Julio Santana in the 11th inning at New York to force in the winning run.