St. Louis ? Seeing more of Chris Carpenter is not helping the Chicago Cubs at all.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ right-hander threw eight sharp innings, had two hits and an RBI and started a big double play in a 4-0 victory over the Cubs on Thursday night. He’s 3-0 with a 2.42 earned-run average against them this season.

“Carpenter pitched an awesome game,” Sammy Sosa said.

The NL Central leaders took two of three from their closest competition, and lead the division by three games after a 7-2 homestand. The Cardinals, who scored all their runs in the fourth with the help of an error by shortstop Rey Ordonez, are 29-8 against the Cubs at Busch Stadium since 2000.

Tony Womack had three hits and an RBI, and Hector Luna and Mike Matheny each drove in a run. Womack is batting .384 in June with 13 multihit games.

“Our offense just has a different look when the leadoff guy gets on,” manager Tony La Russa said. “So let’s hope he stays hot.”

The Cardinals haven’t lost a series since May 21-23, when they dropped two of three at Chicago.

Carpenter (8-2) emerged unscathed from bases-loaded, one-out jams in the second and fourth, and raised his hands in triumph after striking out Todd Walker on a full count with runners on second and third for the final out in the seventh.

“As the game went on, I got stronger and felt better and started hitting my spots a little more and my breaking ball got better,” Carpenter said. “Everything, pretty much, was better.”

Carpenter struck out nine, tying his season best, and walked one. He gave up seven hits before giving way to Jason Isringhausen, who worked a one-hit ninth to finish St. Louis’ fourth shutout of the season.

Matt Clement (7-6) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, falling to 3-1 this season against the Cardinals. Ordonez’s error on a potential double-play ball in the fourth led to three unearned runs.

“I thought I threw pretty well,” Clement said. “The hit by Carpenter hurt me. They hit the ball in unfortunate places.”

The Cubs, who lost for only the third time in 12 games, also ran into a big out in the second.

Clement is 0-2 in his last three starts despite a 1.80 ERA during that span. His last victory was June 8.

Expos 3, Phillies 2

Montreal — Tony Armas Jr. pitched six scoreless innings for his first win in 14 months, and Tony Batista hit a two-run homer, leading Montreal over Philadelphia. Armas (1-2) had season-ending shoulder surgery in May 2003 and missed the first two months of this season while recovering from a strained right rotator cuff. Armas gave up three hits, walked three and struck out seven.

Reds 6, Mets 2

New York — Mike Cameron lost Ken Griffey Jr.’s bases-loaded fly ball in the sun, allowing three runs to score in a five-run seventh inning as Cincinnati rallied past New York. Cincinnati’s Cory Lidle (5-5) pitched eight innings, allowing nine hits and zero walks while striking out seven. Cameron’s error foiled a strong start by Tom Glavine, who leads the major leagues with a 2.11 ERA.

Rockies 3, Brewers 0

Milwaukee — Mark Sweeney hit a two-run homer to back Aaron Cook, and Colorado beat Milwaukee for a rare win in a road series. Colorado, a major-league-worst 10-26 on the road, took two of three from the Brewers.

Braves 9, Marlins 4

Miami — Chipper Jones, J.D. Drew and Nick Green drove in two runs apiece, helping Atlanta avoid its first series sweep of the season. Drew doubled twice and tripled as Atlanta snapped a three-game losing streak.

Astros 3, Pirates 2

Houston — Roger Clemens became the first 10-game winner in the majors, pitching Houston past Pittsburgh. Clemens (10-2) earned his 320th win, moving within four of Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for 12th place on the career list. The Rocket allowed two runs — one earned — and four hits in seven innings. He also had four strikeouts, giving him 4,200 for his career.

Giants 9, Dodgers 3

San Francisco — A.J. Pierzynski had two run-scoring doubles, Marquis Grissom homered, and San Francisco won its sixth straight. The game also featured the second bench-clearing scuffle in two days. San Francisco’s Michael Tucker and Dodgers closer Eric Gagne were ejected in the eighth inning for nearly starting a brawl after Tucker avoided a high pitch by the NL Cy Young Award winner.