Chris Carpenter held the Phillies to one run in seven innings Thursday in a 12-2 victory. Carp was excellent, fanning seven batters while allowing just one walk as the Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep. The veteran right-hander threw 124 pitches and has totaled 250 pitches over his last two outings, but he has handled big workloads in the past and seems to be embracing the pressure brought on by Albert Pujols' sudden forearm fracture. For St. Louis to stay afloat, Carpenter needs to be at his best. And he knows that.