Cardinals, Carpenter on a roll

Matt Carpenter led off the game with a double to right.

It was the start of a double feature — a big day for him and another big series win for the Cardinals.

Carpenter tied a St. Louis record with four doubles, as the Cardinals routed the Colorado Rockies, 12-3, Sunday.

Carpenter matched a franchise mark that Joe “Ducky” Medwick set on Aug. 4, 1937, against the Boston Bees [now Braves].

Carpenter doubled twice in the first, had another in the third and lined his fourth in the seventh on a day when St. Louis pounded out 16 hits.

The first baseman went 4 for 5 with two RBIs.

The Cardinals took two of three from the Rockies in a series between NL playoff contenders. It was the ninth series in a row that St. Louis has captured.

“I don’t know why it couldn’t last for the rest of the year,” Carpenter said. “I don’t see why it shouldn’t, why it couldn’t.”

Dodgers

On the morning after Kenley Jansen surrendered a home run in his third consecutive appearance, manager Dave Roberts gave his closer a day off. Roberts intended to avoid using Jansen in Sunday’s series finale against San Diego, hoping Jansen could return in more effective form in Texas. “I think two days will be great for him,” Roberts said. The last month has been a challenge for Jansen. He missed 11 days with symptoms related to an irregular heartbeat. Upon his return from the disabled list, he has given up four home runs, and he blew a save on Saturday.

Braves

Nursing a lead in the game and in the NL East standings, Atlanta monitored the out-of-town scoreboard as they finished off the Miami Marlins, 4-0. “Absolutely,” manager Brian Snitker said. “We’ve been waiting four years to do this, check the out-of-town. So it’s nice.” Atlanta headed home after a 5-2 road trip with a three-game lead on secondplace Philadelphia.

Athletics

Matt Chapman continued his torrid second-half hitting with a pair of solo homers to help Oakland to a series victory against the Minnesota Twins, sending the Athletics to Houston for three crucial games with the first-place Astros. “It’s the last time we play each other head-tohead, so I’m assuming it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Chapman said. “You can’t get out of character, but I’m excited.”