MIAMI _ Matt Carpenter doesn't fit the traditional profile of a 30-30 hitter in baseball because the latter number refers to stolen bases. He has only one of those this year.
But Carpenter reached 30-30 in a different fashion Tuesday night, crashing his 30th homer on a full-count pitch from Elieser Hernandez in the eighth inning as the Cardinals rallied for a 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins. Coupled with his 33 doubles, the Cardinals' leadoff man became the first player in the majors to reach that particular feat this year.
It was also the first time in his career Carpenter had ascended the 30-homer plateau and it was his fourth homer in his past five games.
Right-handed rookie Pablo Lopez, 22, stifled the Cardinals on three hits for six innings but Paul DeJong corked a two-run homer after Lopez's only walk to tie the score in the seventh.
Miles Mikolas pitched to contact and did it quickly as he scored his 12th win in 15 decisions. Mikolas walked none and struck out just one in throwing only 81 pitches for seven innings. Mikolas has given up two runs or fewer in 17 of his 23 starts and walked none in seven of them.
Rookie Dakota Hudson took the eighth usually reserved for fellow rookie Jordan Hicks and threw a scoreless inning with a large assist from center fielder Harrison Bader, who made a diving catch off pinch hitter Martin Prado for the second out of the inning.
Bud Norris finished for his 22nd save in 25 tries as only 7,230 paid customers observed.
