NewsCarpenter sets RBI mark for Cards
Veteran righty first Redbirds hurler to knock in six runs
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
10/01/09 3:40 PM EST
CINCINNATI -- Never known as a hitter, Chris Carpenter had a career day at the plate and then some on Wednesday.Carpenter hit a grand slam in the second inning, the first home run of his Major League career and the 10th grand slam by a pitcher in Cardinals franchise history according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He followed it three innings later with a two-run double, giving him six RBIs on the day.
Not only was it a career high, the number equaled the previous total of Carpenter's entire Major League career.
PITCHING IN WITH THE BAT | |||||||||
| Pitchers with six or more RBIs in a game, 1960-2009 | |||||||||
PITCHER | RBIs | DATE | OPPONENT | ||||||
| Tony Cloninger, Braves | 9 | 7/3/1966 | Giants | ||||||
| Robert Person, Phillies | 7 | 6/2/2002 | Expos | ||||||
| Chris Carpenter, Cardinals | 6 | 10/1/2009 | Reds | ||||||
| Micah Owings, D-backs | 6 | 8/18/2007 | Braves | ||||||
| Blue Moon Odom, A's | 6 | 5/4/1969 | Pilots | ||||||
| Dave Giusti, Astros | 6 | 8/21/1966 | Reds | ||||||
Also per Elias, the six RBIs were a Cardinals franchise record, surpassing a mark set by one of the all-time great hitting pitchers. Bob Gibson drove in five runs on July 26, 1973 against the Mets.
It's the seventh time since 1960 that a pitcher has had six or more RBIs in a game. The last was Micah Owings on Aug. 18, 2007, for Arizona against the Mets. The highest total in that time frame is by Tony Cloninger, who had nine for Atlanta against the Giants on July 3, 1966.
The last Cardinals pitcher to hit a grand slam was Kent Mercker on Sept. 2, 1998, against the Marlins. In that same game, Mark McGwire hit the 58th and 59th home runs of his record-breaking season.
Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
