CINCINNATI (AP) -- Ace pitcher Chris Carpenter hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, getting the St. Louis Cardinals back on track with his arm and his bat in a 13-0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
Carpenter's first career homer capped a five-run second inning for the Cardinals, who had lost five of six -- including three straight since clinching the NL Central title with a win at Colorado last Saturday. He added a two-run double during a four-run fifth to match the career RBI total he brought into the game.
The right-hander also threw five innings of three-hit ball for his 17th win. Carpenter's grand slam was the 10th by a Cardinals pitcher and first since Kent Mercker connected at Florida on Sept. 2, 1998.
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