Carpenter Spins One-Hit Complete Game Shutout

TORONTO, ON – After watching his good friend Roy Halladay shutdown his team yesterday night, Chris Carpenter decided to one-up his former teammate by throwing a complete game one-hit shutout for his ninth win on the season.

Chris Carpenter had something to prove as he made his first start in Toronto since departing after the 2002 season. The right-hander, who was the Blue Jays opening day starter in 2002, had been riddled with injuries that year and decided to accept a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, instead of remaining with the Jays, in hopes of rejuvenating his career. It has paid off in spades so far as he led his team against Toronto Tuesday night.

Hometown hero Larry Walker had a game to forget against Halladay last night as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, but boy did he come to play tonight. Walker would unload on rookie starter Chad Gaudin in the first, going deep to center-field, a two-run shot and his sixth home run of the season. Gaudin, perhaps shell-shocked by the blast, would be rocked again by Reggie Sanders, giving up back-to-back home runs for an early 3-0 lead.

St. Louis would look for more in the third, loading the bases, but Gaudin bared down, striking out both Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek, followed by a John Mabry groundout to second, ending the inning.

Carpenter meanwhile had the Blue Jay batters in the palm of his hand, no-hitting Toronto thru four innings with six strikeouts. His sinking fastball and hammer curveball had the Jay batters flailing at pitches all night long.

Larry Walker would be at it again in the fifth where he would pound another two-run shot off Gaudin into the second deck in right-center, increasing the lead to 5-0.

Russ Adams would spoil Carpenter’s bid for a no-no in the sixth when he doubled with two outs down the right-field line but was stranded when Reed Johnson grounded out to the shortstop.

Albert Pujols would add to his already good night with a two-run home run off Miguel Batista in the ninth inning to cement the win for his pitcher, 7-0.

Carpenter wouldn’t allow another hit the rest of the way as he went the distance in a complete game one-hit shutout against his former club, striking out ten, improving his season record to 9-4. Chad Gaudin would take the loss dropping to 1-2 after working 4 and 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on ten hits.

Toronto will look to win the rubber match of this three-game series Wednesday night when they send Ted Lilly (3-7) to the mound to face the Cardinals and pitcher Jason Marquis (8-3).

The game on Wednesday night can be seen on TSN starting at 7pm EST with radio coverage on The FAN 590AM.

InsideTheDome’s Game Notes: In the last ‘Toonie Tuesday’ promotion of the season at Rogers Centre, the attendance was an announced 37,536…After joining to go 0-for-8 against Roy Halladay yesterday, Larry Walker and Albert Pujols combined to go 6-for-8 with 3 HR’s, 5 Runs Scored and 6 RBI tonight…Movie actor Bruce Willis attended the game tonight, looking on from a luxury suit.