"Cards manager Tony La Russa was asked before Wednesday's game with the Marlins if ace Chris Carpenter should have two or three wins this season. "He should have more than zero," La Russa said.

But that's where Carpenter's win count remains after he got his fifth no-decision in seven starts as the Cardinals lost to the Marlins 8-7.

This one was a bit different from most of the others, though. While Carpenter has been victimized by lack of run support in many of his outings — the Cardinals have scored three runs or fewer in four of those starts — there was no denying his role Wednesday. In six angst-ridden innings, he allowed six runs on 10 hits and walked three, along with making two throwing errors, one of which allowed a run to score. In a messy third inning, he gave up two singles and walked a batter before walking Gaby Sanchez to force in a run.

"I don't deserve to win pitching like I did tonight," Carpenter said.

And yet he very nearly got one. The Cardinals came back from a 6-2 deficit to tie the score in the sixth, taking Carpenter off the hook for a loss, and, with Carpenter already lifted for a pinch hitter, they had a chance to put him in position for a win. But Albert Pujols' hard-hit grounder with the bases loaded instead turned into an inning-ending force at second.

Of all Carpenter's starts this season, this would have been one of the least likely to produce a win. He's had five quality starts and has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his seven starts. But on a night when he got the most offensive support he's gotten so far this season — six runs — the game was an adventure, with the Marlins getting runners on in each of the first five innings. Carpenter was able to strand four Marlins in scoring position, but his only 1-2-3 inning was the sixth, which was also his last as his pitch count hit 110.

"Obviously it's not what I'm looking for," he said. "I have to do a better job making better pitches when I get ahead in the count. There were lots of things tonight I could have done better. Unfortunately I didn't do well enough tonight to give our team a chance to win.""