CHICAGO -- If the St. Louis Cardinals were looking for a way to free some of the frustrations of an up and down season, putting up 18 runs and getting the best of one of the National League's top pitchers was certainly a step in the right direction.
Now the Cardinals will try to build off that in a doubleheader Saturday against the rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Matt Carpenter led the hit parade in Friday's 18-5 thumping of the Cubs, going 5-for-5 with seven RBI in a leadoff spot that Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt left him in while tinkering with the rest of his lineup.