Matt Carpenter, who has won two of the last three NL Player of the Week awards, hit his 30th home run, a tiebreaking drive in the eighth inning that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals over the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night.

 

Carpenter sent a shot off Elieser Hernandez (2-6) into the Cardinals bullpen in right field homering for the fourth time in five games and increased his career high for home runs. Several St. Louis relievers celebrated with their arms in the air.

 

The home run almost did not happen. Carpenter looked at a pitch thinking it was ball four, but it was called a strike setting up a 3-2 offering.

 

Carpenter also extended his streak of reaching base safely to 26 games, tying a career high and is the longest active string in the majors.

 

Paul DeJong hit a tying, two-run homer in the seventh for the Cardinals, who have won eight of 12.

 

Marcell Ozuna had a pair of hits and is 5 for 8 in his first two games at Marlins Park since being traded by Miami to St. Louis in the offseason.

 

Miles Mikolas (12-3) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits.

 

Dakota Hudson pitched the eighth for St. Louis and was aided by an impressive defensive play when center fielder Harrison Bader charged in and made a diving catch to take a hit away from Martin Prado. Bud Norris worked around a walk and a wild pitch in the ninth for his 22nd save in 25 chances.

 

Pablo Lopez pitched seven innings and issued a walk before DeJong's homer.

 

Derek Dietrich had three hits for the Marlins, who have lost seven of eight.

 

Justin Bour hit an RBI single in the Miami first after Dietrich led off with a hit. JT Riddle tripled to begin the fifth and scored on a single by Miguel Rojas.

 

RHP John Gant (3-4, 4.12 ERA) is slated to start against RHP Trevor Richards (3-6, 3.92).