CHICAGO—The Chicago Cubs defeated the St Louis Cardinals 6-2 on Sunday to claim a National League-leading 71st win with Ryan Dempster picking up his 13th victory.
The Cubs scored five runs in the sixth inning to break open the game and take the rubber match of the three-game series.
St Louis pitcher and 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter left the game during the big inning with another arm injury.
Carpenter (0-1) was making just his third start since the opening day of the last season and had undergone elbow ligament replacement surgery last July.
He went 5 1/3 innings before leaving the game after his first two pitches to Jim Edmonds, the fifth batter he faced in the inning.
The Cardinals said Carpenter had a right triceps injury. He was charged with four runs—two earned—on six hits.
"I felt it come down my triceps," Carpenter told reporters. "The elbow feels fine."
Carpenter said he hoped to test his arm by throwing on the side in Florida on Tuesday as the Cardinals head to Miami for a four-game series with the Marlins beginning on Monday.
"This is definitely not good news to see him (Carpenter) leave the game," St Louis manager Tony LaRussa said. "Maybe he'll catch a break and we'll catch a break and it's nothing more than a funny pitch that sent him a stinger."
Dempster (13-5), a former reliever, improved his record at Wrigley Field to 11-2 with the win. He allowed two runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking three, and was supported by several defensive gems.
"We gave him the opportunity (to start) and he ran with it," Chicago manager Lou Piniella said.
"We played some great defense tonight for him and that makes any pitcher's job a lot easier. You have to do everything well to keep winning ballgames."
Chicago have a four-game lead on Milwaukee in the NL Central and moved seven games ahead of the third placed Cardinals in the division as they attempt to secure a playoff spot in the 100th anniversary season since their last World Series title.
The Cubs are now 45-17 at home.
Ronny Cedeno had a two-run double in the sixth and Mark DeRosa added a run-scoring single in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the second to also drive in a pair of runs for Chicago.
