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Carpenter Is First 16-Game Winner

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From Associated Press

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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