Cardinals' Carpenter left his mark on series vs. Cubs
It's got to be the salsa.
That seemed as good an explanation as any for Matt Carpenter's sensational performance at Wrigley Field this past weekend.
"I don't know," said the Cardinals' Carpenter, who went 9-for-17 with 6 home runs, 2 doubles and 10 RBI in a five-game series that concluded with a 7-2 Cubs victory on Sunday. "But I'm going to keep eating it."
Said Cubs manager Joe Maddon: "Can he send a jar over here, please?"
Carpenter's hot streak began soon after teammate Adam Wainwright planted a garden full of fruits and vegetables in Carpenter's backyard in mid-May.
This was the first week he took it on the road.
And the Cubs paid the price.
"He's seeing the ball so big and so slow right now, there's nothing you can really do," Maddon said. "You just don't pitch to him. That's probably your only recourse right now because he's playing at a different level."
Maddon did exactly that in the top of the second Sunday, electing to load the bases with two outs to get to Yadier Molina, who promptly struck out.
Carpenter, who was hitting .140 with a .286 on-base percentage on May 15, tied Mark McGwire's franchise record Saturday by extending his home run streak to six straight games. He hit 8 homers during the streak, which ended Sunday when he went 1-for-4. It was the most homers over a six-game stretch since Barry Bonds hit 9 in 2001.
"It's really hard to put into words what is happening," Carpenter told MLB.com on Saturday. "I've felt like this before, in the sense that I feel comfortable at the plate and I'm swinging at good pitches and my swing feels like it's where it needs to be. Obviously, I've never had a stretch like this."
Maddon compared Carpenter's streak to Daniel Murphy's eruption in the 2015 postseason (6 homers in six straight games, four of which came against the Cubs in the NLCS), and Barry Bonds in the 2002 playoffs (8 homers in 17 games).
According to MLB.com, only 28 players have homered in six straight games. Ken Griffey Jr. (1993), Don Mattingly (1987) and Dale Long (1956) share the record at eight straight.
"What he did - with the blowing in and still hitting balls out - I don't even want to know what he's thinking," said Anthony Rizzo. "Just keep doing what you're doing. As a hitter, when you're in that zone, it's amazing."
Carpenter is now hitting .277 with a .386 OBP. He has 25 homers and 53 RBI.
Monday's starter:
Luke Farrell, who has appeared in 19 games for the Cubs, will start vs. Arizona on Monday. The 6-foot-6 Farrell (3.86 ERA) has started one other game this season, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in 2.2 innings at Cincinnati on June 23.
Around the horn:
Jesse Chavez, acquired from Texas on Friday, threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning against St. Louis on Sunday. He hasn't allowed a baserunner in 3 IP for the Cubs. … The Cubs are 13-4 in their last 17 home games vs. St. Louis.