Just how well Chris Carpenter pitched for the 2005 Cardinals may become more fully appreciated with time.
Carpenter, who won the 2005 National League Cy Young Award with a 21-5 record and 2.83 ERA, put together a one-month stretch then that recently was touted as historically unprecedented in both its successfulness and its artistry.
Justin Verlander of the Tigers in 2011 won six consecutive starts, allowing four runs and 35 baserunners, with 51 strikeouts, in 49.2 innings pitched.
Since 1900, only one big-league pitcher, Chris Carpenter, has had six wins in six starts, with as many innings pitched and strikeouts as Verlander, and as few runs and baserunners allowed, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
In 2005, from June 14 to July 17, Carpenter went 6-0 in 50.2 innings pitched, with two runs and 27 baserunners allowed, and 54 strikeouts.
Carpenter had a 0.35 ERA during that six-game stretch, lowering his season ERA from 3.49 to 2.34.
“Unfairly to (Carpenter), we kind of expect him to go out and throw shutouts,” Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen told MLB.com in July 2005. “And it’s not that easy.”
Said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa of Carpenter then: “I would say location is (the key). He’s really getting the ball down quite a bit with movement. ”
Here is a look at Carpenter’s dominant 2005 stretch:
June 14, at Toronto, Cardinals 7, Blue Jays 0: Carpenter pitched a one-hitter and struck out 10 against his former club. The lone hit was a sixth-inning double by shortstop Russ Adams. Boxscore
June 20, at Cincinnati, Cardinals 6, Reds 1: Carpenter shut out the Reds for eight innings. After Felipe Lopez led off the Reds’ ninth with a home run and Rich Aurilia walked, Ray King relieved Carpenter and finished the game. Boxscore
June 25, at St. Louis, Cardinals 8, Pirates 0: In a game that took just 2:09, Carpenter pitched a four-hitter and struck out 11. Boxscore
July 1, at St. Louis, Cardinals 6, Rockies 0: Carpenter held Colorado scoreless for 7.2 innings. With a runner on base and two outs in the eighth, La Russa lifted Carpenter and brought in King, a left-hander, to face left-handed batter Todd Helton. King struck out Helton. Boxscore
July 6, at Phoenix, Cardinals 2, Diamondbacks 1: After Carpenter limited Arizona to three hits (including an Alex Cintron solo homer) in eight innings, St. Louis broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth on David Eckstein’s RBI-suicide squeeze bunt. Jason Isringhausen preserved the win for Carpenter with a scoreless ninth. Boxscore
July 17, at St. Louis, Cardinals 3, Astros 0: In his first start after the all-star break, Carpenter outdueled Roger Clemens, pitching a three-hitter and striking out nine. Boxscore
After the win over Houston, La Russa, speaking to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, said of Carpenter, “When he threw the ball inside today, he was right on the black with movement. He got ground balls to the left side. He’s pitching to a very wide plate because he goes to the other side. His breaking ball is down with good break. He’s locating very, very well with good stuff.”
Said Carpenter: “It’s all about execution and location.”
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