Holliday Homer Backs Carpenter’s Solid Outing; Cards Top Reds

St. Louis, MO, United States (AHN) – Matt Holliday detonated a three-run homer in the sixth to back the solid outing of Chris Carpenter, as the St. Louis Cardinals took the rubbermatch of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 Sunday at Busch Stadium.

It was the 25th homer of the season for Holliday, who stepped up to the plate after the Reds intentionally walked Albert Pujols in the sixth inning.

That 418-foot home run from Holliday off losing pitcher Homer Bailey gave a 4-2 lead to the Cardinals, who held on for the win.

Carpenter (15-5), who boasted a career 11-3 record with a 2.00 ERA in 17 starts against St. Louis entering Sunday, took over from there by striking out five straight batters in the sixth and seventh.

The Redbirds right-hander, making his major-leading 30th start of the season, struck out a season-high 11 while yielding two runs on six hits without walking a batter in 7 1-3 innings.

Ryan Franklin registered his 24th save for the Cardinals, who took the season series against St. Louis, 12-6.

Bailey (3-3), who posted a 2-0 mark since coming off the 15-day DL with a shoulder problem in August, was charged with all four runs on five hits while walking one and striking out four over six frames for the Reds.

Apart from winning the series against the NL Central-leading Reds, the Cardinals also pulled within seven games of Cincinnati.

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