Craig hits RBI single in 10th, Cards beat Brewers

Carpenter scored the winning run with a picture-perfect slide on Allen Craig's single in the 10th inning, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cardinals broke a three-game losing streak and avoided a three-game sweep. St. Louis held onto its slim lead for the second NL wild-card spot.

The Brewers, who have won 15 of 20, tied it in the ninth on Norichika Aoki's two-out, two-run homer off closer Jason Motte. The two-strike drive barely cleared the right-field wall.

Carpenter singled with one out in the 10th off Kameron Loe (6-5) and moved up on a wild pitch. Craig singled to right field with two outs and Carpenter barely eluded the tag from catcher Jonathan Lucroy after a strong throw by Aoki.

"I had an angle and I just tried to avoid the tag and thankfully I got in there," Carpenter said. "I got some new blood from that."

Carpenter sustained five cuts on his hands Saturday when his bat shattered in a 6-3 loss. He left the game in the third inning as blood dripped from his hands.

Carpenter showed up early Sunday and went through some hitting and throwing drills to prove to manager Mike Matheny that he was fit to play.

"The work ethic he has, the energy he brings, he's a very good teammate," Matheny said.

Carpenter used a super glue to tape his skin back in place on one of the cuts. He simply taped the others shut.

Now, thanks to his game-winning slide, he has two other cuts and one huge scrape on his bruised hands.

"It's sore, but it's nothing that would keep me out," he said. "Once you get that adrenaline going, you don't think about it."

Craig recorded his first career walk-off hit, thanks in part to Carpenter's hustle.

"It's a great feeling," Craig said. "The last few days haven't been so great. It was good to battle back after a tough game."

The loss slowed the Brewers, who were trying to reach the .500 mark for the first time since April 24.